Having an appointment with their customer service lady on thursday, she offered to come to my office, explain the premium, the coverage, and all details. No experience when it comes to reimbursement, but as far as customer service goes, this is WAY better than the obnoxious girl on the Mutuel line, (have some very entertaining stories about them).

Will let you know my impression after I speak with her.

V
Hoiling, Oct 15, 2008 @ 15:23

Val:

Thanks! Already the fact she's coming to meet you is a good sign! Their prices are just amazing...for basic insurance I'd pay (each month) CHF 330 with Mutuel, and 270 with CSS...a saving of over CHF 700 / year! So i'm trying to see if there's a catch.

Any chance I could join you on the meeting? Or, could you pls send me her number, so I book a meeting with her too?

Thanks,

Nir
Nir Ofek, Oct 15, 2008 @ 15:36

Would be pleased to join too...
Free, Oct 15, 2008 @ 16:00

Hi Free, unfortunatelly the meeting will be in Nyon, and am not sure she can accomodate more then 1 or 2 people (it's really more of a private session, as i have to ask for very specific details about the insurance), but am sure that if there's enough people interested, Nir can convince them to have an 'explanation session' for Glocals? or if you'd like I can send you the details in private and you can arrange to meet them. It was really straightforward for me, I sent a request for an offer via comparis and they got back in touch, I called... and voilà :)

Vale
Hoiling, Oct 15, 2008 @ 16:04

No problem, Vale. I checked with my own insurance (groupe mutuel) and it seems that they have ways to offer me cheaper fares by changing with the group.
Free, Oct 15, 2008 @ 16:39

[quote][b]Free (15/10/2008)

[/b]No problem, Vale. I checked with my own insurance (groupe mutuel) and it seems that they have ways to offer me cheaper fares by changing with the group.[/quote]

...within the group ;)
Free, Oct 15, 2008 @ 16:40

Free:

Is there an advantage is staying within the Mutuel group (rather than moving to a different group)?

Thanks, Nir
Nir Ofek, Oct 15, 2008 @ 17:19

Vale:

Great idea to try and arrange for a free session for glocals members. I'm on the case.

Thanks!

Nir
Nir Ofek, Oct 15, 2008 @ 17:35

It's a group of insurances. I'm currently with the Caisse Vaudoise, and I could switch to l'Avenir, which would save me CHF 20.-/month. I also have been told that I could join more restrictive programs such as Medicare (?) whereby I agree to see my generalist before seeing a specialist for an extra saving of CHF30.-/month. As I would stay within the group, that's feasible without going through a medical exam. Other benefit: I can keep all my extra insurances (assurances complémentaires), which cover complementary and alternative medicine.



You can give them a call at 0848 80 31 11. They were very helpful.
Free, Oct 15, 2008 @ 17:44

Just one note: after asking quite few experts, I realized that even if you switch company for your basic insurance, you can still stay with your old one for the complementary one.

The 2 are totally unrelated, and you can change the coverage level, franchise, and even company of your complementary insurance at any given point in the year (instead of having to wait for the end of the calendar like for the basic one).



Might be helpful. :)

Vale
Hoiling, Oct 15, 2008 @ 19:11

 

i changed from Mutuel to CSS quite a few years ago and can't complain...all depends at what kind of insurance you're looking for really :-)
arj799, Oct 15, 2008 @ 21:09

[quote][b]Hoiling (15/10/2008)

[/b]...even if you switch company for your basic insurance, you can still stay with your old one for the complementary one...[/quote]

That's absolutely right. However this may prove complicated when it comes to settling a case and the two companies may take time to decide how and which part of the costs they will cover. And guess who will have to pay in the mean time???
Free, Oct 15, 2008 @ 21:33

Hey Everyone,

By any chance, does anyone have recommendations for health insurances in France? I'm moving from the USA and will be living right across the border from GVA.  I'm shopping around for a good package. 

Do Swiss health insurances also cover dental or is that separate package?  (forgive me if that's a dumb question).

Thanks. Greatly appreciate your help.

Angie
ayl1968, Oct 16, 2008 @ 23:45

Angies,

Health Insurance in France: Sorry, don't know.

Do Swiss health insurances also cover dental or is that separate package?  Seperate package. There the Swiss basic health insurance, which is a fixed-by-law-package that everyone living in CH must have. This does not include dental coverage. You can take our a complementary insurance for dental, but:

• It ain't cheap. I pay CHF 70 / month for dental, and I think that's around average.
• Not sure thesurance will agree to cover you. The insurance will make you do a dental check up first, and if they don't like the results - they won't take your money.

Contact Zurich Insurance, who give free advice to glocals, to get more advice on Health Insurance and any other insurance type.
Nir Ofek, Oct 17, 2008 @ 00:01

Hi Every one,

I m an independant advisor and i have partnership with :

Groupe Mutuel, Css, Helsana, Assura.

Css is interesting only if you choose the " reseau delta" wich mean that you have to choose a generalist doctor into a list and go to see him before going to a specialist.

Mutuel assurance propose the same system. You can also switch for Avenir wich belong to the groupe mutuel, like this you can keep your "complementaire" in the same insurance. To me, it s not a good idea to separate basis insurance and "complementaire", specially if you have privat hospital coverage, because if you have an expensive bill, you will be refund very lately.

For a family, better  go to Css or Helsana as they provide family discount ( 5 to 10%).

French insurance : alptis propose very interesting coverage and price and Credit Agricole for me is the best but it s quiete expensive.

If you need futher informations, I can come freely to you from 8 am to 8pm, at home or at work, I can also organise a session for glocals in my office.

Best regard.

Patrick

078 749 34 92
[email protected]
Tryky, Oct 17, 2008 @ 13:22

I have Mutuel and my son and his girlfriend have separate accounts with CSS.  My son never had problems with CSS. His girlfriend on the other hand had a problem whereas the insurance company did not pay a doctor's invoice and she had major problems trying to resolve the issue.  I was told that CSS had some problems. What kind, I don't know.  This is all I can tell you about that insurance company. I personally found Mutuel very reliable and pretty quick in their turn around of reimbursements. Cheers. Hanny:)

hannygale, Oct 17, 2008 @ 16:07

Actually they do. My insurance company also made an appointment with me and went over all details, both Axa Winterthur and Mutuel.

hannygale, Oct 17, 2008 @ 16:09

Hello,

I have just come across to this forum regarding the HHealth Insurance.

I need to arrange one that would be not very expensive and so far I got only one quote from SWICA.

I also work in Nyon and I was wondering whether you can give me the details/some tips on your personal experience with that meeting you had for your insurance.

Many thanks in advance for your help

Gabriella:)

gabs78, Mar 17, 2009 @ 13:04

Gabs,

My own experience with CSS with lukewarm. I met with them in GVA, they were supposed to come back to me with prices, and never did...)-:

For the best deal, I suggest you contact Ardian, who is an insurance broker that we at glocals started working with. He works with all insurance companies, so he compares all prices for you, and presents you with the best offer.

His email: "Ardian Gjeloshi" <[email protected]>,

Nir
Nir Ofek, Mar 17, 2009 @ 14:09

just go to www.comparis.ch

there you only need to enter your year of birth and postal code and it will generate a list of all medical insurance prices. then, just 2 clicks and the selected company will send you directly an offer. voilà
epicure, Mar 17, 2009 @ 14:19

Gabster,

Comparis is a GREAT tool indeed for selecting pricing. On top of price, you should also consider:

• Payment mechanism. Some insurance companies make you pay for your health costs, and then they re-imburse you. Other companies pay your costs directly to the doctor / pharmacy, and thus you don't have to be out-of-pocket.
• Overall reputation. Some insurance companies have a rep of good payers, others have a rep of giving their clients a hard time.

Net, use comparies, but also use someone who knows more details on top of price...

Nir
Nir Ofek, Mar 17, 2009 @ 14:29