Whether or not it is despair, anxiousness or stress many individuals in Switzerland need assistance for psychological well being situations in some unspecified time in the future. However will medical insurance pay for the price of this remedy?
The time period „psychological sickness“ encompasses a variety of problems, together with scientific despair, anxiousness, stress, in addition to different power or momentary situations.
Like bodily sicknesses, psychological well being points additionally influence your well-being, which is individuals ought to search remedy and help.
However is such remedy coated by medical insurance?
Typically talking, Switzerland’s compulsory medical insurance (KVG / LaMal) doesn’t distinguish between bodily and psychological sickness, in a way that one just isn’t thought-about extra vital than the opposite when it comes to prioritising remedy.
That is particularly the case because it has been medically confirmed that the 2 are sometimes inter-related — that’s, psychological misery can negatively influence bodily well being, and vice versa.
Due to this fact, the price of medical remedy for each is roofed by all compulsory well being plans, although a lot relies upon who (what sort of medical skilled) is treating you.
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Psychiatrists versus psychologists
Although some individuals use the phrases interchangeably as a result of each professions work within the discipline of psychological well being, for the needs of medical insurance, the 2 are totally different.
How?
Based on Sanitas insurance coverage supplier, psychiatrists have a medical diploma and are due to this fact medical doctors, on a par with different specialised physicians, in a way that they’ll diagnose and deal with sufferers, and in addition prescribe remedy.
Psychologists, alternatively, have a college diploma, which isn’t, nonetheless, as complete as a psychiatrist’s.
In different phrases, psychologists haven’t any medical coaching and, although they specialise within the workings (and deviations) of a human thoughts and behavior, they can’t deal with sicknesses or prescribe medicines.
Usually, psychiatrists deal with extra advanced psychological well being situations than psychologists, particularly ones that require remedy or medical remedies.
Nonetheless, there may be additionally one other sort of psychological well being suppliers, referred to as psychotherapists.
They’re psychologists who accomplished a number of years of coaching in psychotherapy or psychoanalysis on prime of their psychology diploma. They’ll provide a extra superior remedy than ‘common’ psychologists, however can’t prescribe medicines.
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Which of those companies does the medical insurance cowl?
Based on Sanitas, which follows the identical guidelines devised by the Federal Workplace of Public Well being as all the opposite insurance coverage suppliers in Switzerland, the compulsory KVG / LaMal pays for psychiatric remedy on the identical foundation as for different medical doctors practising in Switzerland — that’s, minus the deductible and co-payment.
It doesn’t cowl unreferred remedy supplied by psychologists, although some complimentary insurance policies do (learn extra about this beneath).
Nonetheless, if the remedy is prescribed by a medical physician, insurance coverage will sometimes cowl the prices.
As for psychotherapists, the insurance coverage pays, however provided that they’ve a cantonal license to follow psychotherapy and are due to this fact recognised by the insurance coverage firm below the KVG / LaMal.
In such a case, fundamental insurance coverage covers the associated fee for as much as 30 periods (once more, minus the deductible and co-payment).
If the remedy is to proceed past the 30 periods, a psychiatrist should assess your medical historical past and suggest an extension of the remedy.
The ultimate choice, nonetheless, lies with the insurance coverage firm.
What in regards to the complimentary insurance coverage?
Typically, they solely pay for psychologists who’re members of sure skilled associations or are licensed to follow in your canton.
The standards fluctuate from one insurance coverage supplier to a different.
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Do you want a referral out of your GP to see any of those professionals?
That is dependent upon the kind of the fundamental insurance coverage you’ve gotten.
If it’s a customary mannequin, the place you’ve gotten limitless entry to every kind of specialists, then you definately don’t want a referral.
If, alternatively you’ve gotten opted for a (barely cheaper) insurance coverage mannequin, which requires you to have a referral to a specialist, then you should see your GP first.
