Health insurance card

What is a health insurance card?

The health insurance card contains the insured’s personal details and important information on their health insurance. Issued in credit card format, the insurance card can be used throughout Europe.

What information is stored on the health insurance card?

On the front of the insurance card you will find your name, date of birth and details of your health insurance. On the back you will find all the information you need if you require medical treatment abroad.

  • Insurance card details (basic insurance with or without supplementary insurance)

    KVG card
    1. Medical hotline: You can call this number around the clock, 365 days a year if you need medical advice in Switzerland
    2. Customer number (insurance number)
      Service centre:       Your contact for administrative queries and information
    3. Chip: This chip contains all your administrative personal details that must be printed on your insurance card in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). This includes your first name, surname, card number, date of birth, sex, AHV no. and expiry date.
    4. Personal details: The Sanitas insurance card is your personal customer card.
    5. Proof of insurance in Europe: For a temporary stay in a member state of the European Union or an EFTA state, the card acts as proof of insurance for medical treatment in emergencies.
    6. Magnetic strip: Only your personal ID is stored here. It is used primarily for buying medicines at the pharmacy. 
    7. Assistance: This number is a 24-hour helpline for emergencies (illness and accident) abroad – but only when you have the appropriate insurance.

  • Insurance card details (only supplementary insurance)

    VVG card
    1. Service centre: Your contact for administrative queries and information
    2. Personal details: The Sanitas insurance card is your personal customer card.
    3. Customer number (insurance number)
      Card number:       This is the number needed by pharmacists and other healthcare providers (doctor, hospital, etc.)
    4. Medical hotline: You can call this number around the clock, 365 days a year if you need medical advice in Switzerland. 
    5. Magnetic strip: Only your card number is stored here (see point 3). It is used primarily for buying medicines at the chemist.
    6. Assistance: This number is a 24-hour helpline for emergencies (illness and accident) abroad – but only when you have the appropriate insurance.

Why should I always have my health insurance card with me?

Your health insurance card simplifies the billing procedure with your health insurance company. Always show it in when you use the services of pharmacies, hospitals and medical practices.

You should always have your health insurance card with you when you travel abroad. The card is considered proof of insurance in case of emergency medical treatment.

Where do I find my customer number (insurance number)?

You can find your customer number on your insurance card and on any personal correspondence.

What to do if you lose your insurance card?

Get in touch and we’ll order you a new insurance card. Please note that it can take up to six weeks for your new card to arrive. Sanitas does not charge a fee for the cards, even though a new card costs around CHF 5 to produce.

If I lose my card, will I be charged a fee for a replacement as with cash cards and credit cards?

No. Sanitas does not charge a fee for the cards, even though a new card costs around CHF 5 to produce.

I need my insurance card to buy medicine or receive medical treatment, but it hasn’t arrived yet.

Always give healthcare providers, such as doctors, hospitals and chemists, your customer number to ensure your claims settlement is dealt with quickly and easily. With the Sanitas Portal app, you always have your insurance card to hand.

Are you going abroad soon?

Contact us to request confirmation of your insurance in English. You can submit this to a doctor in case of emergencies.

Good to know

With the Sanitas Portal app, you always have your insurance card to hand. All it takes is a gentle shake to make your insurance card appear in the app.

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I have installed the Sanitas Portal app on my smartphone. Does the digital insurance card replace the plastic card?

The electronic insurance card can be useful if you forget your physical insurance card. In Switzerland, healthcare providers can determine your insurance cover by manually entering your card’s ID number, which is also stored on the electronic insurance card in the app. However, if you travel outside Switzerland within the EU, claims can only be settled using your physical insurance card.

Does Sanitas provide a PIN management service?

No. Sanitas doesn’t provide a PIN management service. Customers are responsible for managing their own PINs. Sanitas recommends that you don’t use a PIN with your chip card.

Should I protect the card with a PIN?

Sanitas recommends that you don’t use a PIN with your chip card, because if the patient is unresponsive or has forgotten the PIN, it’s not possible to read PIN-protected data in an emergency.