Health coverage abroad and insurer’s information duty

ATA/738/1997Cour de justice / Chambre administrative25 nov. 1997Confirmed

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Résumé Omnilex

The dispute concerned whether health insurance had to cover treatment and hospitalization abroad. The court held that the insurer had complied with its duty to inform by publishing the regulatory changes in its journal. It also confirmed a daily benefit of CHF 1,000 for treatment abroad, but reiterated that compulsory health insurance does not cover hospitalization abroad unless it is an emergency. Finally, it stated that Art. 34(2) LAMal does not create a list of foreign services that cannot be provided in Switzerland.

Regeste Omnilex

Art. 34 al. 2 LAMal; coverage of treatment abroad and scope of emergency hospitalization abroad; the compulsory health insurance scheme does not cover planned hospitalization abroad, and the statutory provision does not establish a positive catalogue of foreign prestations unavailable in Switzerland. An insurer may satisfy its duty to inform insured persons by publishing regulatory amendments in its official journal, provided the communication is sufficiently accessible. A court may therefore uphold the insurer’s published coverage rules, including a fixed daily benefit for treatment abroad, while denying broader reimbursement for non-emergency hospital care abroad.

Texte intégral

Descripteurs

ASSURANCE COMPLEMENTAIRE; AM; SEJOUR A L'HOPITAL; ETAT ETRANGER; ASSURANCE SOCIALE; ASSU

Normes

LAMAL.12 al.2

Résumé

La caisse a respecté son devoir d'information en publiant les modifications réglementaires dans son journal. Le TA a confirmé la couverture de frs 1'000.- par jour prévue pour les traitements à l'étranger. La LAMal ne couvre pas le cas de l'hospitalisation à l'étranger qui n'est pas ordonnée en urgence. Il n'existe pas de liste de prestations fournies à l'étranger qui ne pourraient l'être en Suisse (art. 34 al. 2 LAMal).

Mots-clés

health insurancecoverage abroadhospitalizationinformation dutyemergency treatmentpublicationdaily benefit

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Question juridique clé

Whether the insurer satisfied its duty to inform insured persons about regulatory changes by publishing them in its journal.

Solution extraite

Yes. The court held that publication in the insurer’s journal was sufficient to satisfy the information duty.

Motifs extraits

The insurer had duly communicated the regulatory amendments through its journal, so the insured could rely only on the published terms.

Question juridique clé

Whether the insured was entitled to CHF 1,000 per day for treatment abroad under the applicable coverage rules.

Solution extraite

Yes, the cantonal court confirmed the coverage of CHF 1,000 per day for treatment abroad.

Motifs extraits

The court accepted that this contractual or regulatory daily benefit remained applicable to treatment abroad.

Question juridique clé

Whether non-emergency hospitalization abroad had to be covered by the compulsory health insurance scheme.

Solution extraite

No. The court held that LAMal does not cover hospitalization abroad unless it is ordered as an emergency.

Motifs extraits

Compulsory health insurance does not extend to planned hospitalization abroad; emergency necessity is required for coverage.

Question juridique clé

Whether there exists a list of services obtainable abroad that could not be provided in Switzerland under Art. 34(2) LAMal.

Solution extraite

No. The court stated that no such list exists.

Motifs extraits

Art. 34(2) LAMal does not establish a positive catalogue of foreign prestations unavailable in Switzerland.

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