Hospital general at a glance
Basic insurance only pays for treatment in the general ward of a listed hospital in your canton of residence (except in an emergency). Hospital general insurance gives you a free choice of hospital throughout Switzerland. You decide which hospital you wanted to be treated in and get more benefits for your money. Hospital general insurance is ideal if you live in a rural area with few hospitals.
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Free choice of hospital throughout Switzerland
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Insurance coverage for emergencies throughout Switzerland and worldwide for eight weeks per trip
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No free choice of doctor (you will generally see a junior doctor)
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Accommodation in a multi-bed room
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Vacanza travel insurance included
Benefits of hospital general insurance
| Services | Hospital general |
|---|---|
| Recognised hospitals | Free choice throughout Switzerland |
| Choice of doctor | No free choice of doctor |
| Room | Accommodation in a multi-bed room |
| Your annual out-of-pocket expenses (voluntary) | No out-of-pocket expenses |
| Rooming-in | In the first year of life: 100% of accommodation From the age of 1 to |
| Lump-sum birth benefits | Outpatient birth not covered |
| Insurance coverage in an emergency | Throughout Switzerland and worldwide for eight weeks per trip |
| Vacanza travel insurance | Included for eight weeks per trip |
| Convalescence treatment, balneotherapy | CHF 50 per day, max. 21 days per year |
You will find a complete overview of all the benefits this product provides in our benefits search function.
Discounts
You get a 50% discount on top-up insurance premiums for your second child and every additional child in your family who is insured with Visana. You will receive this discount until your child turns 18.
When you apply for Hospital general top-up insurance, we also need a completed health questionnaire. If you pass the risk assessment, you receive a 20% discount on your premium for your first year of insurance. This discount automatically lapses after the first year of insurance and is replaced by a 20% no claims bonus, provided you do not receive benefits.
Is Hospital general insurance right for you?
Hospital general top-up insurance is suitable for people who:
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want a free choice of hospital anywhere in Switzerland.
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have modest healthcare demands. Access to private hospitals and treatment by consultants or senior consultants are not important for these people.
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are happy to share a hospital room with several others.
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are healthy and budget-conscious.
How Hospital general insurance works
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Your doctor refers you to hospital.
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If you are unsure, BetterDoc will put you in touch with a suitable specialist free of charge, who will provide a detailed second medical opinion.
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We check whether we have a contract with the chosen hospital.
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The hospital obtains our confirmation that we will cover costs and we notify you.
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Let us know straight away if you are dissatisfied with the service provided by the hospital.
Hospitals subject to restrictions
There may be certain restrictions on your choice of hospital, depending on your insurance model. All the key details can be found in the Restrictions on hospital choice fact sheet.
Your advantages with Hospital general insurance
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Free access to all acute-care hospitals in Switzerland
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Second medical opinion included
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Vacanza travel insurance included for eight weeks per trip
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Rooming-in for mother and child included
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Contributions towards treatment at health resorts
We will be happy to take the time to explain the advantages to you at no obligation.
Useful services for you
Having good insurance is half the battle. These services assist you:
If you are seeking a suitable hospital for your treatment, our comprehensive list of hospitals will help you to find the right hospital near you.
Please note: In order to keep premiums affordable for private and semi-private hospital top-up insurance, Visana can exclude cost coverage for certain hospitals in whole or in part. Please contact us before any hospital stay – to enable us to find the best solution for you and to prevent additional costs from arising.
See at a glance which benefits your basic insurance covers and what additional advantages our top-up insurance models offer.
Anyone with basic insurance or hospital top-up insurance from Visana can obtain a second medical opinion. For this purpose, BetterDoc puts you in touch with a suitable doctor, free of charge.
With ‘Emergency-Finder’, you are optimally equipped in critical medical situations. This app helps you to assess your symptoms correctly and shows you the nearest emergency ward in real time, along with its current capacity.
The cost-free service is available in the City of Bern and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Insurance that complements this product
Frequently asked questions about Hospital general insurance
The Hospital general insurance model is particularly worthwhile if you live in a rural area where there are not so many hospitals. Moreover, different tariffs apply in different cantons. These can result in additional costs, which you must pay if you do not have top-up insurance. If you are transferred to another hospital outside your canton of residence, Hospital general top-up insurance covers the costs.
No, the Hospital general insurance model only covers the cost of a multi-bed room.
General cover means that you are insured for a stay in the general ward of a hospital. In other words, you are accommodated in a multi-bed room during your hospital stay.
No, with the Hospital general insurance model, you do not have a free choice of doctor. However, you do have a free choice of hospital throughout Switzerland.
Rooming-in means that an accompanying person is allowed to stay overnight in the hospital room. For example, your child can stay with you in your room if you wish. Naturally, this also applies the other way around, if your child has to be hospitalised. Visana covers the following rooming-in costs:
- Under 1 year of age: 100% of the cost of accommodation and meals for the mother or child
- Ages 1 to 13: up to CHF 50 per day for one accompanying person
Downloads
Conditions of insurance
Overview of benefits
Fact sheet
Forms
Useful lists
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