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Health insurance companies

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Health insurance companies

The Swiss health insurance system is characterized by a combination of compulsory basic care and voluntary supplementary insurance, which offers insured persons comprehensive medical care and flexibility.

Basic insurance (compulsory health insurance, OKP)

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  • Compulsory: All persons living in Switzerland must take out basic insurance, regardless of age or state of health.

  • Insurers: There are numerous private health insurers that offer basic insurance, but the benefits are legally prescribed and identical.

  • Benefits: Basic insurance covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays in the general ward, medication, certain therapies and emergency care.

  • Premiums: Premiums vary depending on the canton, insurer and model chosen (e.g. HMO, family doctor model). They are independent of income, but there are premium reductions for people with low incomes .

Franchise and excess

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  • Franchise: Each insured person chooses an annual deductible (co-payment) that is between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500. The deductible is the amount that the insured person must pay each year before the insurance company pays out benefits.

  • Deductible: After reaching the deductible, the insured person bears 10% of the additional costs up to a maximum amount of CHF 700 per year for adults and CHF 350 for children.

Supplementary insurance

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  • Voluntary: In addition to the basic insurance, additional insurance can be taken out voluntarily to cover additional services that go beyond the basic insurance.

  • Benefits: Supplementary insurance may include benefits such as better hospital accommodation (semi-private or private ward), dental costs, alternative healing methods and treatment abroad.

  • Premiums and eligibility requirements: Premiums for supplementary insurance are independent of income, but insurers may conduct health checks and reject applications or adjust premiums based on health status.

For further details, please contact us!

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