Illness, accident and cost trap abroad: Who pays for rescue costs in the event of a ski accident?

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More than 7,000 kilometers of pistes and 1,905 ski lifts: Switzerland is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Thousands of skiers and snowboarders take to the mountains every weekend. Even though the safety level on well-groomed tracks has increased, thousands of accidents still occur every season. According to the Accident Prevention Advisory Centre, approximately 61,000 Swiss people are injured each year in accidents on the ski slopes. This can be very expensive if you are not properly insured, as the example of Julia M. (12) from the Flumserberg region shows. The girl fell on the track and broke her arm and had to be transported to the valley by the track rescue team. Then we went to the hospital by ambulance.

The bills for both transportations are quite heavy. The cost of a hillside rescue is 300 francs, and the cost of an ambulance is 950 francs. Only 500 francs of the total 1,250 francs are covered by health insurance (more on this later in the text). Julia’s parents would have to pay 750 francs out of their own pockets. However, since the family had SOS 144 AG insurance, these expenses were fully covered.

Heart attack: rescue helicopter costs 6,400 francs

Many of those affected are surprised at how much of the recovery costs they have to cover themselves. Basic insurance only pays half of the cost of each emergency transport resulting from illnesses such as stroke, heart attack or wasting attack. The insured must pay the amounts exceeding this maximum amount within one calendar year. These difference amounts can create a huge hole in the household budget, as seen in the example below.

Bernhard A. (48), from the canton of Grisons, had a heart attack last year and had to be transported to hospital by rescue helicopter. Cost: 6,400 francs. According to KVG, the health insurance company covered half of this; Bernhard A. himself would have to pay 3,200 francs. However, this difference was covered by the SOS 144 rescue card.

In an emergency, every second counts. Therefore, in Switzerland the next best principle applies: The nearest rescue equipment most suitable for the type of emergency is sent to the emergency area. For the patient, this means that it is not possible to choose which rescue organization will come to help. Depending on illness or accident, a rescue helicopter may also be called. This means those affected can be taken to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible. Depending on the need, an ambulance, rescue helicopter or both will be called. Different organizations may be used depending on the region. This makes it even more important that you know how to be insured in case of an emergency. If you are not adequately protected, this can cost you dearly.

Medical transportation is only partially covered

This is also seen in the example of Susanne E. (66) from the canton of Aargau. The retired she suffered from weakness attacks twice in the same year and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance each time. Cost per transport: 1050 francs.

In the first vulnerability attack, the health insurance company covered 500 francs, according to KVG, while the difference of 650 francs was covered by the SOS 144 recovery card. The health insurance company did not participate in the second bill because it only covered 500 francs per calendar year. The entire amount of 1,050 francs was covered by the SOS 144 recovery card. If the woman from Aargau had not been insured, she would have had to pay a total of 1,700 francs.

Accident: 50 percent of expenses for those affected

For people who do not work or work less than eight hours a week, such as retirees, housewives, househusbands, children and students, this gap also arises in the case of rescue transport due to accidents such as falls, sports or home accidents. Here too, 50 percent of the costs must always be borne by you, because they are insured as well as in case of illness (see box).

How about saving abroad?

If you are rescued abroad by ambulance or rescue helicopter, your basic health insurance policy is usually not covered. Ambulance transportation abroad is limited to 500 francs. The same applies to people who insure the accident with health insurance (working less than eight hours a week). Depending on the destination, rescue costs may be even higher than in Switzerland.

Return from abroad

With the basic health insurance policy, repatriation is not insured in any way and the costs must be borne entirely by you, without additional insurance.

While the cost of repatriation by ambulance jet in Europe can be over 20,000 francs, repatriation from overseas such as Thailand can quickly rise to over 100,000 francs. For those working more than eight hours a week, the amount of accident insurance is also limited to 29,640 francs. This means almost everyone has an insurance gap when it comes to repatriation. Returns have the largest insurance gap in terms of quantity. You should definitely check this coverage as it may contain amounts that may threaten your existence. This can be met, for example, by the SOS 144 Plus model, which guarantees not only rescue, but also recovery.

Solution to unreimbursed costs

The SOS 144 rescue card is a good solution. This covers rescue and recovery costs regardless of the rescue organization and rescue equipment. This cover applies, among other things, to operations of Rega, Air Zermatt, AAA Alpine Air Ambulance or DRF, but also to ambulance. This insurance coverage is valid worldwide; It doesn’t matter where the emergency occurs, who is involved in the rescue, or whether the emergency occurs due to an accident or illness. As an SOS 144 policy holder there is a guaranteed right to cover recovery costs which, unlike membership, are not covered. This insurance coverage is available at prices starting from just 60 francs per year for individuals and 90 francs per year for couples and families.

Source : Blick