What will the health insurance company pay for abroad?

Get the international insurance cover that’s right for you. Our supplementary insurance gives you comprehensive cover – whether you become ill, have an accident or are undergoing planned treatment abroad. An overview of our benefits.

What will the health insurance company pay for abroad?

What does your insurance pay for a medical emergency abroad?

Basic insurance

Covers emergency treatment abroad in public hospitals and medical practices. However, it has a cost limit: the maximum cover is twice the amount that would be incurred in Switzerland for the same treatment. If you become ill or have an accident within the EU/EFTA/UK (EU countries, Iceland, Norway and the UK), you must show your insurance card – the reverse of your card is recognised as your European insurance certificate. The costs are paid via your insurance card. Anywhere else in the world, however, you would incur substantial costs in some cases. Outside Switzerland, basic insurance also doesn’t pay for ambulance service or repatriation. The excess in the country providing treatment is also not covered, although, within the EU/EFTA/UK, the Swiss co-payment of medical costs in the form of the deductible and excess does not apply. In all other countries, you must pay these costs.

More about insurance cover abroad under your basic insurance

TOP supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of emergency treatment costs that exceed the benefits covered by basic insurance. Within the EU/EFTA/UK, all co-payment of medical costs abroad is covered where these costs exceed CHF 300. In all other countries, co-payment (deductible and excess) is the same as in Switzerland.

More about TOP

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of emergency treatment costs that exceed the benefits covered by basic insurance. Within the EU/EFTA/UK, all co-payment of medical costs abroad is covered where these costs exceed CHF 300. In all other countries, co-payment (deductible and excess) is the same as in Switzerland.

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WORLD supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of emergency treatment costs that exceed the benefits provided by basic insurance, where repatriation to Switzerland from abroad is not feasible.

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HOSPITAL ECO hospital insurance

As a supplement to your basic insurance, you will receive up to CHF 500 per day spent in hospital for up to 60 days a year if your repatriation to Switzerland from abroad is not feasible.

More about HOSPITAL ECO

HOSPITAL Semi-Private hospital insurance

As a supplement to your basic insurance, you will receive up to CHF 1,500 per day spent in hospital if your repatriation to Switzerland from abroad is not feasible.

More about HOSPITAL Semi-Private

HOSPITAL Private hospital insurance

Covers 100% of emergency treatment costs where repatriation to Switzerland from abroad is not feasible.

More about HOSPITAL Private

HOSPITAL FLEX hospital insurance

On top of what your basic insurance pays, HOSPITAL FLEX 1 gives you up to CHF 500 per day spent in hospital, with HOSPITAL FLEX 2 paying up to CHF 1,000 per day. Both payment options are provided for up to 60 days a year where repatriation to Switzerland from abroad is not feasible.

More about HOSPITAL FLEX

Emergency treatment abroad: payment conditions

  • It is not feasible for you to travel or be transported to Switzerland.
  • You are only abroad temporarily.

In the case of inpatient treatment, you must contact our Emergency Call Centre immediately: +41 58 340 16 11.

Repatriation: repatriation from abroad

Who pays for your repatriation from abroad? If you have to be repatriated to your place of residence or a hospital in Switzerland:

Basic insurance

Does not pay for your repatriation, even if repatriating you is medically reasonable.

TOP supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of the cost of medically necessary repatriation to Switzerland.

More about TOP

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of the cost of medically necessary repatriation to Switzerland.

More about COMPLETA

Zusatzversicherung WORLD

Deckt 100% der Kosten für den medizinisch notwendigen Rücktransport in die Schweiz.

More about WORLD

Conditions for repatriation:

  • You must allow our Emergency Call Centre to handle every stage of the arrangements: +41 58 340 16 11.
  • A doctor authorised by us confirms that your repatriation is a necessity.

Ambulance service abroad

Who co-pays the cost of ambulance service abroad?

Basic insurance

Does not cover transport and rescue costs abroad.

TOP supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of the cost of medically necessary transport to the nearest suitable hospital and to your place of residence (see above: Repatriation). If you are hospitalised abroad for longer than 7 days, we pay the travel costs and part of the accommodation costs for a person closely related to you. We also reimburse you for any transport rebooking costs or the cost of a new return flight.

More about TOP

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

overs 100% of the cost of medically necessary transport to the nearest suitable hospital and to your place of residence (see above: Repatriation). If you are hospitalised abroad for longer than 7 days, we pay the travel costs and part of the accommodation costs for a person closely related to you. We also reimburse you for any transport rebooking costs or the cost of a new return flight.

More about COMPLETA

WORLD supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of the cost of medically necessary transport to the nearest suitable hospital abroad and to your place of residence (see above: Repatriation). WORLD covers the costs for up to two people travelling to visit you if you are hospitalised for longer than 7 days. It also covers travelling costs incurred by you as a result of your emergency.

More about WORLD

Ambulance service abroad: conditions of reimbursement

In an emergency, please contact our Emergency Call Centre immediately on +41 58 340 16 11. We will coordinate all further steps.

Free travel consultation

Are there health risks in your travel destination? Is a vaccination required? Call our Travelcheck hotline and get advice – ideally four to six weeks before your departure. This offer is available to all policyholders with TOP and COMPLETA insurance.

Missing person search: recovery and rescue costs abroad

Is the cost of a missing person search as part of recovery and rescue covered by the health insurance company? And what is the sum insured by your international health insurance for this?

Basic insurance

Does not cover rescue and transportation costs abroad.

TOP supplementary insurance

Pays up to CHF 20,000 per claim for missing person searches as part of your recovery and rescue.

More about TOP

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

Pays up to CHF 20,000 per claim for missing person searches as part of your recovery and rescue.

More about COMPLETA

WORLD supplementary insurance

Pays up to CHF 10,000 per claim for missing person searches as part of your recovery and rescue.

More about WORLD

Recovery and rescue costs: conditions of reimbursement

In an emergency abroad, please contact our Emergency Call Centre immediately on +41 58 340 16 11. We will coordinate all further steps.

Planned treatment abroad

Are costs also paid for planned treatment abroad?

Basic insurance

Does not cover planned treatment abroad.

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

You receive 90% of the cost of planned treatments abroad as an outpatient up to CHF 1,000 per calendar year. Alternative medicine and dental treatments are excluded.

More about COMPLETA

COMPLETA PLUS supplementary insurance

You will receive 90% of the costs, up to CHF 1,000 per calendar year, for medically prescribed outpatient treatment abroad, in addition to the benefits under COMPLETA. This excludes complementary medicine, dental treatment, laser vision corrections, preventive medical care and health promotion measures.

More about COMPLETA PLUS

PRIMEO supplementary insurance

Covers 100% of the cost of planned outpatient treatment in a hospital abroad if you have obtained a cost approval from us in advance. The co-payment limits correspond to treatment you would get in Switzerland.

More about PRIMEO

HOSPITAL ECO hospital insurance

Covers up to CHF 500 per day for a maximum of 60 days per year if you obtained cost approval in advance. For this, use the form below.

More about HOSPITAL ECO

HOSPITAL Semi-Private hospital insurance

Covers up to CHF 1,500 per day if you obtained cost approval from us in advance. For this, use the form below.

More about HOSPITAL Semi-Private

HOSPITAL Private hospital insurance

Covers 100% of the costs if we have given cost approval in advance for such costs. For this, use the form below.

More about HOSPITAL Private

HOSPITAL FLEX hospital insurance

With HOSPITAL FLEX 1 you receive up to CHF 500 per day spent in hospital for planned inpatient treatment abroad. HOSPITAL FLEX 2 pays up to CHF 1,000 per day for a maximum of 60 days per year – provided you obtain cost approval from us in advance. For this, use the form below.

More about HOSPITAL FLEX

Planning to have treatment abroad?

You must obtain cost approval from us in advance for planned treatment abroad. To do this, use the form here:

Legal expenses cover abroad

Who pays the costs arising from disputes on health-related matters? Or for legal disputes where you are the driver, hirer, passenger or a pedestrian?

Basic insurance

Does not cover legal expenses.

TOP supplementary insurance

You receive legal advice and representation as well as reimbursement per legal case of up to CHF 250,000 in Europe and up to CHF 50,000 outside of Europe.

More about TOP

COMPLETA supplementary insurance

You receive legal advice and representation as well as reimbursement per legal case of up to CHF 250,000 in Europe and up to CHF 50,000 outside of Europe.

More about COMPLETA

Helsana Advocare PLUS

Comprehensive benefits in legal disputes relating to health, civil and motorists’ legal expenses cover. Sum insured: up to CHF 300,000.

More on this cover

Helsana Advocare EXTRA

Comprehensive benefits worldwide in legal disputes regarding health, civil, motorists’ and internet legal expenses cover. Sum insured: up to CHF 1 million within Europe and up to CHF 100,000 outside of Europe.

More on this cover

Other useful benefits abroad

Costs of visits by family members

Are you spending over a week in hospital outside Switzerland? Being visited by a close relative is invaluable in these instances.

  • TOP and COMPLETA supplementary insurances cover the cost of outward and return travel by the person visiting you (maximum cover is for an economy-class flight). We pay up to CHF 200 per day and CHF 1,000 per event for food and accommodation.
  • Under WORLD, we organise and pay for up to two closely related persons to travel to visit you in hospital (first-class train ticket or economy-class flight ticket).

Rebooking a planned return journey

Are you unable to return home as planned due to a hospital stay? The TOPCOMPLETA and WORLD supplementary insurances all cover the cost of you rebooking your return flight. If you cannot be booked onto another flight, we cover the cost of a return flight in economy class. WORLD also reimburses you for the costs incurred if you have to interrupt or discontinue your trip due to illness. It pays up to CHF 10,000 per person and CHF 20,000 per family.

Additional travelling expenses: conditions of reimbursement

  • You must allow our Emergency Call Centre to handle every stage of the arrangements: +41 58 340 16 11 
  • It is not feasible for you to travel or be transported to Switzerland.

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