FAQ health insurance card

What benefits do I get from having a health insurance card?

The card acts as your insurance certificate. You always have the necessary information with you. Simply present the card – and the doctor, the pharmacy or the hospital will settle the benefits with Sympany. The card is also valid in the EU.
In the EU, the card makes it easier to get medical treatment and settle the bill in an emergency. You only pay the deductible valid in the country in question. The doctor or the hospital settles the other costs directly via Sympany.
The card with an electronic chip enables you to purchase prescription medicine in a pharmacy without using cash.
You have the option of saving personal emergency medical details on the chip such as your blood group or information on any allergies.
On the card you will find the emergency number for medical emergencies in Switzerland and abroad:
+41 41 480 44 22 (normal phone charges apply)

What information does the chip contain?

Your personal details: first name, surname, gender, date of birth and AHV number.
Information on your insurance cover with Sympany.

The Swiss Confederation obliges health insurers to provide this information electronically (Ordinance on the Insurance Card for Mandatory Health Insurance (ICO)). This gives doctors, pharmacies and hospitals easy access to patients’ personal details and information on their insurance cover.
Moreover, you have the opportunity to store personal emergency medical details on the chip.

What emergency medical details can I store on the chip?

Blood group and blood transfusions
Vaccinations
Transplants
Allergies
Illnesses and consequences of an accident
Medication
Contact addresses
Notes on patient decrees

If, for example, you suffer from a severe allergy, we recommend that you add this information to the chip.

This enables the doctor to initiate the right course of treatment quickly in an emergency. More information is available at: www.notfalldaten.ch.

You can have your emergency medical details stored at authorised pharmacies and service providers.

Who can access my emergency medical details?

Only doctors, pharmacies and hospitals. Sympany has no access to the data.

It is also possible to protect the emergency details with a PIN code. However, in this case doctors, pharmacies or hospitals will not be able to access these details in an emergency if you are not responsive.
Please note: after five incorrect PIN attempts, the PIN function will be blocked. To unblock it, enter the 8-digit PUK code which you received together with the card.

If you have lost your PUK code, simply get in touch with Sympany:
Switzerland: 0800 455 000 (toll-free)
International: +41 800 455 500 (normal phone charges apply)

Can I block access to information on the chip?

Yes. However, in this case doctors, pharmacies and hospitals will no longer be able to access the required information about you and your insurance cover electronically. This makes settlement more laborious. Moreover, you will no longer be able to purchase medication in a pharmacy without cash.

If you would like to block the chip, please write to Sympany at:
Sympany
Peter Merian-Weg 4
4002 Basel

I have several health insurance cards. Which one should I use?

If you take out basic insurance and supplementary insurance policies with different insurers, you will be sent several health insurance cards. Always present all cards. In this way, the doctors, pharmacies and hospitals can settle the benefits with the right insurance company.

What do I do if I lose the card?

Immediately phone Sympany’s hotline:

Switzerland: 0800 455 000 (toll-free)
International: +41 800 455 500 (normal phone charges apply)

Sympany will block the lost card and send you a new card. If you have stored emergency medical details on your lost card, you can arrange for the data to be stored again on your new card.

Who can I call if I have questions concerning the health insurance card?

Our hotline operators will be happy to inform you: