Visiting a doctor is certainly not your first priority when you are newly arrived in Switzerland. Nevertheless, it is beneficial to find out about how to find a doctor and register early on so that you are prepared in case of an emergency.
The health care system in Switzerland is one of the best in the world. In case of illness or accident, your health insurance covers a certain part of the costs. Therefore, it is important that you take out a health insurance within the first three months after your relocation to Switzerland. This is required by law and primarily protects yourself. The health insurance must be paid retroactively to the date of entry. We're happy to help you find & conclude your health insurance - contact us today.
When you're looking for a doctor in Switzerland, it in part depends on the insurance model you have. The standard modell of the basic health insurance grants you free choice of doctor, but if you've picked a cheaper model, your choice may be limited.
In the standard model, you may choose your doctor for all treatments. With alternative models, you are required to go to points of contact such as health centers, pharmacies or family doctors/group practices. The Telmed model is also becoming increasingly popular. In the event of an illness, a preliminary clarification is first made by telephone with experts. However, to ensure that you also receive direct personal support in an emergency and do not have to wait a long time in the emergency room, we recommend that you always seek out a family doctor or family practice. Through repeated contact, the doctor also learns about your allergies, medical history and more, which is important. In the event of an emergency, a visit to a gynecologist or ophthalmologist, as well as maternity treatment, you will have free choice of doctor for almost all models.
Note that supplementary insurance packages are extremely important to guarantee proper coverage. Supplementary hospital insurance is necessary to receive a private or semi-private room during a hospital. Outpatient supplementary insurance grants you coverage for glasses, transportation costs, fitness memberships, preventive services, elective care abroad, and much more. Contact Expat Services Switzerland today to find the right insurance package tailored to your specific needs.
Get started on supplementary health insurance!If you already have a family doctor but the practice closes, he or she will usually take care of placing you with another practice or recommend other practices. If this is not the case, you can contact the medical association in your canton of residence. Depending on the insurance model, your insurance company might also give you a list of doctors that are part of their network.
There are multiple online portals where you can enter your place of residence to find doctors or practices in your area. These include:
It is important that you pay attention to the following points, among others, when choosing a doctor:
What is the procedure for registering with a doctor?
Registration can be done in a number of ways. Virtually all primary care physicians' offices can be reached by phone as well as email, so these are probably the most commonly used ways to register for a new visit. Another option would be to register in person on site. However, a prerequisite for successful registration and admission is that the doctor has sufficient free capacity, which is not always the case given the shortage of doctors in Switzerland. You have a better chance of being admitted if you have either been referred by your old family doctor or if you have a group practice or family doctor model in your health insurance.
At your first visit, you will have to fill out a personal data sheet, which the practices need to record your data. For this, be sure to bring your ID as well as your health insurance card. In general, you should carry your health insurance card with you/in your wallet at all times in the case of an emergency. In addition, it is advisable to request your records from your previous primary care physician. These give insight into the previous medical history and show applied treatments, as well as allergies and more.
Are you new in Switzerland and need professional support and advice? We will be happy to explain everything you need to know about living in Switzerland, find the right health insurance for you and accompany you personally and competently. Contact us now!
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