Been to a 3rd consultation for the same problem in bout 12 months. Spent less than 5 minutes with the doctor. Is this bill correct? Are they charging me for the time in the waiting room or what?

13 comments

  2. Looks alright, unfortunately. Received a nice CHF 400.- bill as well for a 15 minutes consultation, 15 min check up twondays later, a blood test (was around CHF 80.-) and some meds (around 70.-).

  4. On paper this is reflective of a 15 minute visit with a specialist. If it was a normal doctor they wouldn’t have put the 24.0015, so your bill would have been 20 frs. cheaper. But to be honest you would probably be hard-pressed to find someone cheaper. Up to you to contest the bill with the doctor if you really just spent 5 minutes but it might backfire.

  5. Looks similar to the bills I received when living in Switzerland. I recall the multiple charges for people between 6 and 75 as concerning until I realized all doctors charged similarly.

    As far as whether or not they charge your waiting time I’m not sure but I think the doctor or nurse accounts the time and may not be super accurate. My doctor did charge me for reviewing my medical file I think.

  6. Looks absolutly correct

    Doctors spend also time for you without you (preperation to read your previous history and after you are gone they complete their quick notes)

    if you don’t agree, just call and ask them

  7. As far as I know they can’t go under the 5 min as it’s their “quantum” if I may say. Also points may “overlap”. But OP should know it’s impossible to say if it’s legit as we were not here and we have no information about his/her health condition.

    OP can check the full Tarifsystem (Tarmed) online (admin.ch, probably the BAG) if he/she thinks it’s wrong bc MDs do “mistakes”. Then OP can contact the MD for a correction. But it’s not worth the time.

    Moreover it’s not by annoying your MD that he/she’ll get a new boat on the Goldküste and/or on the Léman. People should respect them more for what they do and send them more free money.

  8. In Switzerland, you’ve 2 options for medical checkups

    1. Never see a doctor
    2. See a doctor all the time for everything

    There’s no in-between that makes sense financially.

  9. I once got a absurdly high bill for a small 15min consultation (+400.-). I had a similar consultation 2 years prior at a different doctor which was less than half the price. So I contacted the Hospital in Bern (Insel) who issued the expensive bill and even sent them the other one as a reference and told them immediately to lower the bill and stop this scam. I couple days later I got a new bill which was around 230.- lower and a excuse letter…

    The are scamming everywhere! Don‘t be afraid do stand up if you suspect something…

  10. What appears on this bill:

    – The Tarmed-defined fee for a consultation with an orthopedist.

    What is included in this package:

    The time of the person who made the appointment, possibly who had contact with your general practitioner

    The time of the person who prepared your file before the consultation

    The time taken by the surgeon before the consultation to read what his secretary/assistant has prepared

    The time taken by the surgeon to document the consultation

    The time taken by the secretary to modify your file according to the doctor’s remarks

    Single-use equipment

    Cleaning of reusable equipment

    Preparation of the room for the next patient

    Eventually the time that will be taken to organize the operation itself

    The time taken for billing the appointment

    The time taken for coding the bill for your insurance

    Etc

    Edit: mise en page

  12. I think the bill is correct. All those items are listed on my bills for visits, and the prices all add up. I get charged 17 for the doctor to resend me a prescription. The pharmacy charges 4 something for a pharmacist to sign off on the medication. It’s bonkers.

Leave a Reply