Reimbursement and insurance

Chiropractic has been recognised and covered by compulsory health insurance since 1964. It is one of the five university medical professions under the Medical Professions Act.

You do not need a doctor’s referral to book an appointment.

One important exception. If you have chosen an alternative insurance model — family doctor, health network, or telemedicine — your contract generally requires you to contact your designated doctor or telemedicine service first. That is a condition of your contract, not a rule of chiropractic.

Which model you hold is stated on your policy. If in doubt, call your insurer before you come.

The mechanism is the same as for any basic-insurance service. Until your health costs for the year reach your deductible — the franchise on your policy — you pay them yourself. Above it, your insurer covers most of the cost and a limited share stays with you: the co-payment, or quote-part. That share is capped annually.

The amounts are on your policy. They depend neither on the practice nor on chiropractic.

This is the most common misunderstanding, and it costs patients money. Supplementary insurance does not reimburse chiropractic consultations — precisely because basic insurance already does. Taking out a supplementary policy for that reason achieves nothing.

Chiropractic is also covered by accident insurance (LAA), disability insurance (AI) and military insurance (AM).

After an accident, bring your claim number. That is all reception needs to bill the right insurer. If you are employed, you report the accident to your employer, who notifies their accident insurer; the number comes from there. Self-employed people insured voluntarily report the accident themselves. If you have no accident insurance, accident cover is included in your basic health insurance.

As a rule the consultation is billed directly to your insurer. You pay nothing up front and have nothing to claim back.

If you are not insured in Switzerland, the consultation is billed to you personally, on the same basis as for an insured patient. Claiming it back from your own insurer is then up to you. Cross-border workers insured under LAMal are ordinary patients with no extra steps.