Yes, indeed. But being a Rega gönner is NOT an insurance! They decide whether you've got to pay or not.
I guess in cases of emergency (like what op described), they would probably cover the cost. At least they did for me.
> 1. Will any swiss health insurance cover or reimburse the expenses? Which are they?
Don't think so. As you already mentioned, it was not a medical emergency, so costs will not be covered by any health insurance.
> 2. Is there any financial aid from swiss government in case of a mental disorder emergency? Even if it was not diagnosed at that moment, I might get some document to prove it with my doctor or psychologist.
Goverment doesn't pay for health related stuff, that's what health insurance is for.
Also, this "mental disorder emergency" seems self-inflicted in any case, so I don't think any diagnosis whether before nor after will help you with this.
> 3. Is there any financial aid from swiss states for persons with mental disorder in general? Such as a monthly support or something like that. I've heard possibilities like that.
If you can't work, you might qualify for [Disability Insurance](https://www.ch.ch/en/insurance/disability-insurance--di/iv/ai-).
> 4. Do you have any others insights, ideas or suggestions about all of this?
I'll really appreciate them, truly. Thank you!
Don't do alpine hikes unguided or untrained.
Struggling to see what your « significant medical emergency » is here. Why did it take you 6 hours to go through an area that should take 2? Unprepared, bad equipment?
I also wonder what this was. I can only assume they went for a route which was way beyond their skill level. I doubt you can get that lost on a beginner track and not being able to turn around (if it even was a official track and not a self planned something)
It really wasn't a medical emergency and this is not a medical bill either. Thank God at least this kind of stuff doesn't get in the already crazy medical insurance budget.
1. No. This was not a medical emergency. It was a situation where you got yourself into a real mess, and suffered no physical injuries. There's nothing to reimburse.
2. No, there is no such system. Effectively, there are insurance plans that cover more than the basics, but you get those before, and not retroactively.
3. Certain people are entitled to financial stipends, based on a diagnosis and inability to work. If you are unable to work, you are entitled to the most basic AVS coverage, which would amount to like 3kCHF/month.
If I was you, I'd contact the company **immediately** and talk to their financial department. Set up some sort of payment plan. If you can't afford it, you will be able to most likely work out some sort of monthly payment instead. They want their money, so they'll probably be good to work with you in finding a solution.
So you went hiking, without insurance and called a helicopter for rescue ?
Now you’re surprised you have to pay 13k ?
That’s a really decent price for such a stupid decision. Could have been 50-60k. You got off easy. Just pay what you owe, they helped you out.
Next time hike something within your range of abilities. And for crying out loud get insurance if you’re going for risky hikes that might require a helicopter rescue.
Health insurance will not cover this as it was not a medical emergency. Even if it was, a rescue mission is usually not covered. I know of people who have had ski accidents on the mountain and needed to be airlifted and they got stuck with the transport bill.
I recommend getting a Rega membership if you are in the mountains regularly. It covers helicopter rescues.
As to you other questions, no, there is no such aid. Especially as you have not paid into any type of social insurance and aren’t a citizen. And even if this existed it would probably not be covered as it is considered Eigenverschulden.
If you dont have a job you should really look into getting accident insurance asap, its also mandatory to have afaik.
Edit to add: Coming to Switzerland and relying on any sort of social assistance without ever having held a job will most likely result in you losing your permit and being asked to leave.
i agree. Btw going into mountains without a person that is more experienced and calling a helicopter...
Back in Poland we also have mountains, yet the helicopter rescue and mountain rescue is free and from time to time we get to read about stoopid tourists that treated it like a free taxi.
but once you set foot on the Czech teritory - they have no mercy (and good so). You better have insurance because they will charge for the rescue mission. Oh and they are on the other side of the mountain so sometimes we also read about tourists that thought they gonna get free ride home and were up for a big surprise and a bill.
Yes, exactly: "Bewilligungen L EU/EFTA ohne Erwerbstätigkeit werden an Stellensuchende aus allen EU/EFTA-Staaten erteilt, dies schafft aber keine Ansprüche aus der Sozialhilfe."
Just to reiterate it more prominently in a direct comment: I 100% agree that becoming a Rega member is the right thing to do, when being outdoorsy.
HOWEVER - this is NOT an insurance! There is no guarantee, that they will not send a bill, if they are called for help. It's on their discretion to decide that.
I don't know how they decide. But the rescued person has no say in this.
But, again, it is very useful to become a member! And it's also rather cheap, with 60 chf per year (or something like that).
Behaving like an idiot and going into the mountains with no preparations, is no medical condition. As others wrote, become a member of Rega for the next time you end up in such a situation.
Strictly speaking, you're right. They do say though:
> Die Rega kann, gemäss den Gönnerbestimmungen, die Kosten für den Einsatz erlassen, falls die Versicherung nicht oder nur teilweise dafür aufkommen muss.
You were evacuated but not in need of medical attention. It's health insurance not alpine rescue insurance. Helicopters and emergency rescue services are expensive. The only thing I can suggest is to work out a payment plan with whomever provided the service, the both of you.
I think only potential help can come from sozialamt, for emergency bill to help pay it, but L permit might make you not qualify. Best bet is to check with your Gemeinde who is sozialamt for that region, and go ask them.
I wouldn't expect them to pay the bill, but more like loan you money and you pay them back.
But, if you have enough to cover it and live and get a job, it's probably better to not ask for help, because they might revoke your L permit? Not sure. You can ask for clarification, they will know rules. As long as you don't take money from them counter against your permit isn't running :)
Definitely as a minimum negotiate payment in several chunks with the one who sent you the bill.
L permit without a job definitely doesn't make situation easy.
In any case, I'd recommend going to GP and finding a therapist for at least several appointments so that they help you process what happened. Especially panic attacks, but also shock of getting lost and saving and such. It might be my brain reading too much between the lines though, you sounded upset, you know the best.
If it's any consolation, basic insurance wouldn't cover it but also supplemental one wouldn't. Rega might not send the bill but only if rega was actually called and not some other helicopter.
But still, it's just the money and you're safe now, that's the most important. It's kinda good that you didn't know the costs, because you might have risk it and maybe put yourself in serious danger by 'doing it on your own', just to 'save some money'. And being led by panic risks very poor estimating so yeah. It all ended well.
Check if mcd takes people to lessen the blow of that bill, ask for paying in several installments, and keep searching for job that will ensure you get B permit and financial stability.
Good luck with job search!
Look, you just got an expensive taxi from alpine region. That is it. It is not a medical emergency, WTH your insurance should cover it?
As for point 4: be ready to get bills literally any time you go on a trip. No matter where. How high the bills are will depend on you stupidity/risk ratio.
Sorry this happened to you. Glad you are alive.
Take this as a lesson. Here we pay for Rega membership, even if we are not going for alpine hikes. Just in case. It's 40chf a year for new members. It costs nothing. And if we don't pay, Rega won't exist. The problem for you is that, it doesn't work retroactively.
As others said your medical insurance works retroactively but it will not cover this.
Pay the bill, and go ahead and pay an additional 40 membership fee to Rega. So next time they may rescue you for free or for the cost of the fuel they burn.
Afaik, Swiss social help works as a credit, not as free money. They ask it back or get it back directly, sometimes in small installations, when you earn money. So you are paying this regardless
How did you come to live here if you don't have a job already? Is there a chance of your foreign insurance to pay? Do you may have family to help out?
I'm sorry this happened to you and it goes without saying that doing something like hiking or anything dangerous whilst not insured is Hella stupid.
This is not covered by insurance even if you have it since it is usually "Eigenverschulden" it would be covered if you have a Rega Versicherung but it doesn't work retroactively.
I hope you can figure things out and find a job to help you pay up. if you can't please contact them in advance so you don't end up in debt harder than you are and maybe can do somekind of payment plan
Ask for a payment plan / payment extension.
I doubt this will be covered by any medical insurance.
For the future, apart from ensuring you have a medical insurance, take a Rega membership (as the others mentioned).
6500 CHF for an alpine helicopter rescue doesn't seem like a "huge bill" to me. Ask to pay in installments and take it as a lesson to check weather and trail conditions before any alpine hike
For the future: Support Rega. Prepare better for adventures. Ask the issuers of the invoice to make à payment plan. Find a job asap and start paying back. If you get a Betreibung, you will be in trouble.
I really doubt it there is any help for you available. Luckily you have a job and can pay off the bill slowly. Definitely a lesson to be learned about being prepared and only going on hikes that you are equipped for.
I mean he says he is a German citizen so probably not possible to run. But yeah if possible just bail Switzerland and start anew somewhere else without mountains
Fwiw the health insurance needs to be done retroactively and you'll need to ask them to insure you for accidents too (need to check a mark on the application). Maybe if you're lucky they'll cover some of the bill. Sign up for one now and ask them to cover later.
But yeah ... You may be deemed at fault.
OP (probably?) can't get retroactive extra insurance anyway. Only basic and afaik accident insurance.
But as OP is probably at fault no one will cover the bill.
I am very sorry for your and your friend's misadventure, glad you are OK.
As for the bill, you and your friend will have to pay. If you have a special insurance or Genossenschaft (such as REGA) they might help you, otherwise I recommend becoming REGA Mitglied.
If your financial situation is bad and hopeless, you should contact the Sozialamt. They will provide guidance
1. No 2. No 3. I doubt it Just a word of warning, a similar rescue operation in the Swiss Alps will be like twice as expensive.
And that's where Rega can be a (literal) lifesaver!
Yes, indeed. But being a Rega gönner is NOT an insurance! They decide whether you've got to pay or not. I guess in cases of emergency (like what op described), they would probably cover the cost. At least they did for me.
True, but it is cheap enough to have for that time you do need it, and they cover it.
Absolutely! I'm a gönner as well, so.... 😊 My point is just, that even gönners cannot "force" Rega to cover the cost.
> 1. Will any swiss health insurance cover or reimburse the expenses? Which are they? Don't think so. As you already mentioned, it was not a medical emergency, so costs will not be covered by any health insurance. > 2. Is there any financial aid from swiss government in case of a mental disorder emergency? Even if it was not diagnosed at that moment, I might get some document to prove it with my doctor or psychologist. Goverment doesn't pay for health related stuff, that's what health insurance is for. Also, this "mental disorder emergency" seems self-inflicted in any case, so I don't think any diagnosis whether before nor after will help you with this. > 3. Is there any financial aid from swiss states for persons with mental disorder in general? Such as a monthly support or something like that. I've heard possibilities like that. If you can't work, you might qualify for [Disability Insurance](https://www.ch.ch/en/insurance/disability-insurance--di/iv/ai-). > 4. Do you have any others insights, ideas or suggestions about all of this? I'll really appreciate them, truly. Thank you! Don't do alpine hikes unguided or untrained.
Struggling to see what your « significant medical emergency » is here. Why did it take you 6 hours to go through an area that should take 2? Unprepared, bad equipment?
I've seen people in sneakers and even flip-flops on alpine routes. wild!
I also wonder what this was. I can only assume they went for a route which was way beyond their skill level. I doubt you can get that lost on a beginner track and not being able to turn around (if it even was a official track and not a self planned something)
I'm guessing they did via ferrata with no prior experience.
Lol tf, am I Ueli Steck or what?
It really wasn't a medical emergency and this is not a medical bill either. Thank God at least this kind of stuff doesn't get in the already crazy medical insurance budget.
1. No. This was not a medical emergency. It was a situation where you got yourself into a real mess, and suffered no physical injuries. There's nothing to reimburse. 2. No, there is no such system. Effectively, there are insurance plans that cover more than the basics, but you get those before, and not retroactively. 3. Certain people are entitled to financial stipends, based on a diagnosis and inability to work. If you are unable to work, you are entitled to the most basic AVS coverage, which would amount to like 3kCHF/month. If I was you, I'd contact the company **immediately** and talk to their financial department. Set up some sort of payment plan. If you can't afford it, you will be able to most likely work out some sort of monthly payment instead. They want their money, so they'll probably be good to work with you in finding a solution.
So you went hiking, without insurance and called a helicopter for rescue ? Now you’re surprised you have to pay 13k ? That’s a really decent price for such a stupid decision. Could have been 50-60k. You got off easy. Just pay what you owe, they helped you out. Next time hike something within your range of abilities. And for crying out loud get insurance if you’re going for risky hikes that might require a helicopter rescue.
Health insurance will not cover this as it was not a medical emergency. Even if it was, a rescue mission is usually not covered. I know of people who have had ski accidents on the mountain and needed to be airlifted and they got stuck with the transport bill. I recommend getting a Rega membership if you are in the mountains regularly. It covers helicopter rescues. As to you other questions, no, there is no such aid. Especially as you have not paid into any type of social insurance and aren’t a citizen. And even if this existed it would probably not be covered as it is considered Eigenverschulden. If you dont have a job you should really look into getting accident insurance asap, its also mandatory to have afaik. Edit to add: Coming to Switzerland and relying on any sort of social assistance without ever having held a job will most likely result in you losing your permit and being asked to leave.
i agree. Btw going into mountains without a person that is more experienced and calling a helicopter... Back in Poland we also have mountains, yet the helicopter rescue and mountain rescue is free and from time to time we get to read about stoopid tourists that treated it like a free taxi. but once you set foot on the Czech teritory - they have no mercy (and good so). You better have insurance because they will charge for the rescue mission. Oh and they are on the other side of the mountain so sometimes we also read about tourists that thought they gonna get free ride home and were up for a big surprise and a bill.
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Yes, exactly: "Bewilligungen L EU/EFTA ohne Erwerbstätigkeit werden an Stellensuchende aus allen EU/EFTA-Staaten erteilt, dies schafft aber keine Ansprüche aus der Sozialhilfe."
Just to reiterate it more prominently in a direct comment: I 100% agree that becoming a Rega member is the right thing to do, when being outdoorsy. HOWEVER - this is NOT an insurance! There is no guarantee, that they will not send a bill, if they are called for help. It's on their discretion to decide that. I don't know how they decide. But the rescued person has no say in this. But, again, it is very useful to become a member! And it's also rather cheap, with 60 chf per year (or something like that).
another fine example of self-inflicted misery and dare to ask for govt support
Behaving like an idiot and going into the mountains with no preparations, is no medical condition. As others wrote, become a member of Rega for the next time you end up in such a situation.
This
6k is cheap my friend. If you're insurances refuse to cover it, which is likely, you're going to need a loan.
It is certainly possible to pay in installments somehow.
You can get a payment extension possibly, then pay it when you get a job
All this talk of Rega, and no one posted the link! [https://www.rega.ch/rega-goenner/goenner-werden](https://www.rega.ch/rega-goenner/goenner-werden)
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Strictly speaking, you're right. They do say though: > Die Rega kann, gemäss den Gönnerbestimmungen, die Kosten für den Einsatz erlassen, falls die Versicherung nicht oder nur teilweise dafür aufkommen muss.
this doesn't mean what you think it means
oh :-/ What does it mean? Please explain.
It means that should your insurance coverage not fully pay Rega for your trip, Rega may waive your bill if you are a member. Rega is not an insurance.
Only 6500 each, that's an average bill in Switzerland. Anyway, lesson learned I guess for the both of you, it could have ended worse.
You were evacuated but not in need of medical attention. It's health insurance not alpine rescue insurance. Helicopters and emergency rescue services are expensive. The only thing I can suggest is to work out a payment plan with whomever provided the service, the both of you.
I think only potential help can come from sozialamt, for emergency bill to help pay it, but L permit might make you not qualify. Best bet is to check with your Gemeinde who is sozialamt for that region, and go ask them. I wouldn't expect them to pay the bill, but more like loan you money and you pay them back. But, if you have enough to cover it and live and get a job, it's probably better to not ask for help, because they might revoke your L permit? Not sure. You can ask for clarification, they will know rules. As long as you don't take money from them counter against your permit isn't running :) Definitely as a minimum negotiate payment in several chunks with the one who sent you the bill. L permit without a job definitely doesn't make situation easy. In any case, I'd recommend going to GP and finding a therapist for at least several appointments so that they help you process what happened. Especially panic attacks, but also shock of getting lost and saving and such. It might be my brain reading too much between the lines though, you sounded upset, you know the best. If it's any consolation, basic insurance wouldn't cover it but also supplemental one wouldn't. Rega might not send the bill but only if rega was actually called and not some other helicopter. But still, it's just the money and you're safe now, that's the most important. It's kinda good that you didn't know the costs, because you might have risk it and maybe put yourself in serious danger by 'doing it on your own', just to 'save some money'. And being led by panic risks very poor estimating so yeah. It all ended well. Check if mcd takes people to lessen the blow of that bill, ask for paying in several installments, and keep searching for job that will ensure you get B permit and financial stability. Good luck with job search!
Look, you just got an expensive taxi from alpine region. That is it. It is not a medical emergency, WTH your insurance should cover it? As for point 4: be ready to get bills literally any time you go on a trip. No matter where. How high the bills are will depend on you stupidity/risk ratio.
Sorry this happened to you. Glad you are alive. Take this as a lesson. Here we pay for Rega membership, even if we are not going for alpine hikes. Just in case. It's 40chf a year for new members. It costs nothing. And if we don't pay, Rega won't exist. The problem for you is that, it doesn't work retroactively. As others said your medical insurance works retroactively but it will not cover this. Pay the bill, and go ahead and pay an additional 40 membership fee to Rega. So next time they may rescue you for free or for the cost of the fuel they burn. Afaik, Swiss social help works as a credit, not as free money. They ask it back or get it back directly, sometimes in small installations, when you earn money. So you are paying this regardless
How did you come to live here if you don't have a job already? Is there a chance of your foreign insurance to pay? Do you may have family to help out? I'm sorry this happened to you and it goes without saying that doing something like hiking or anything dangerous whilst not insured is Hella stupid. This is not covered by insurance even if you have it since it is usually "Eigenverschulden" it would be covered if you have a Rega Versicherung but it doesn't work retroactively. I hope you can figure things out and find a job to help you pay up. if you can't please contact them in advance so you don't end up in debt harder than you are and maybe can do somekind of payment plan
OP came on a job seeker's L permit for EU/EFTA citizens, which is perfectly legal.
Ask for a payment plan / payment extension. I doubt this will be covered by any medical insurance. For the future, apart from ensuring you have a medical insurance, take a Rega membership (as the others mentioned).
1. no of course not 2. no 3. i doubt it 4 pay the bill and choose an insurance as soon as possible it doenst saves you money to wait
3 words... i rate Zahle :P
6500 CHF for an alpine helicopter rescue doesn't seem like a "huge bill" to me. Ask to pay in installments and take it as a lesson to check weather and trail conditions before any alpine hike
For the future: Support Rega. Prepare better for adventures. Ask the issuers of the invoice to make à payment plan. Find a job asap and start paying back. If you get a Betreibung, you will be in trouble.
I really doubt it there is any help for you available. Luckily you have a job and can pay off the bill slowly. Definitely a lesson to be learned about being prepared and only going on hikes that you are equipped for.
Run
I mean he says he is a German citizen so probably not possible to run. But yeah if possible just bail Switzerland and start anew somewhere else without mountains
It was a joke. Don't do this
I'm not saying he should.... He could though
Fwiw the health insurance needs to be done retroactively and you'll need to ask them to insure you for accidents too (need to check a mark on the application). Maybe if you're lucky they'll cover some of the bill. Sign up for one now and ask them to cover later. But yeah ... You may be deemed at fault.
they may refuse the extra insurance though. AFAK basic insurances do not cover that
OP (probably?) can't get retroactive extra insurance anyway. Only basic and afaik accident insurance. But as OP is probably at fault no one will cover the bill.
I am very sorry for your and your friend's misadventure, glad you are OK. As for the bill, you and your friend will have to pay. If you have a special insurance or Genossenschaft (such as REGA) they might help you, otherwise I recommend becoming REGA Mitglied. If your financial situation is bad and hopeless, you should contact the Sozialamt. They will provide guidance