The Basic Healthcare Package
Healthcare in Switzerland is privately run although the government decrees that by law all citizens must be covered by a basic package of healthcare services. This basic package includes treatment for illness or accident and pregnancy. Each person must cover part of their treatment themselves by paying an annual excess known as the franchise on their insurance policy. All insurance companies must offer the basic healthcare package. Contribution rates vary between companies, but they are not allowed to turn people down or increase premiums based on risk. Citizens are free to use any insurance company for the basic package, providing it is registered with the caisse-maladie or Krankenkasse and is approved by the Federal Act, which governs healthcare. Premiums are paid directly to the insurance company on a monthly basis.

Fees
Free treatment even in emergency situations is non existent in Switzerland and medical fees are extremely high. Fees must be paid directly by the patient or by their insurance company. All citizens must pay an excess which ranges from 184 EUR to 1,350 EUR this excess can be designated by the individual and insurance premiums are calculated accordingly. Citizens also have to pay 10 percent of the costs of all of their treatment in addition to this excess. Pregnant women are exempt from this charge.

Swiss doctors and hospitals send a bill for their treatment, which must be paid within 30 days. You must submit the bill to your insurance company for reimbursement. Non residents without sufficient insurance cover will have to pay a deposit once admitted to hospital. The fee is in the region of 1,225 EUR to 6,123 EUR.

Prescription medicine, which is on the government’s official list is reimbursable through the basic insurance package, but you will have to pay for 10 percent of the overall cost yourself. All other medicine will have to be paid for in full, unless you have additional insurance, which supplements all medicine. Some insurance companies give their members an insurance card, which you show at the pharmacy. This allows the pharmacy to charge the insurance company rather than the individual. The insurance company then bills the individual for the 10 percent contribution to the cost of the prescription.