Who pays for patient transport? Costs and health insurance
Who pays for what, when do you need a prescription and why does basic health insurance only cover half? The key rules in plain English.
For medically necessary medical transport, compulsory basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) usually covers 50 per cent of the costs, up to an annual maximum. A medical prescription is usually required. Anything beyond that is paid by supplementary insurance or by the patient. Emergency rescue missions and repatriation from abroad follow their own rules.
- Basic health insurance: around 50 per cent, up to an annual maximum
- A medical prescription is usually required
- Supplementary insurance often covers considerably more
- Repatriation from abroad is handled by travel insurance
This page summarises common practice and is not a binding statement. Your policy always takes precedence. If in doubt, ask your health insurer — a call before the journey saves discussions afterwards.
Transport or rescue? The difference determines your cover
Insurers make a strict distinction between two situations. A medical transport carries a medically stable patient — to an examination, to rehabilitation, from one clinic to another or home. A rescue is an emergency mission in which medical care is provided on the way.
Mobimed carries out medical transport, not rescue missions. That is not a limitation but a clear division of tasks: we transport patients whose condition is stable. Where vital functions have to be maintained on the way, the ambulance service is responsible — in an emergency, dial 144.
Which type of transport suits which situation?
The right type of transport depends on the patient’s state of health — not on the price. A wrongly chosen journey puts needless strain on the patient.
| Type of transport | Suitable for | Strain on the patient | Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stretcher transport | Immobility, after an operation, severe pain | Very low | A second transport assistant is always present |
| Wheelchair transport | Inability to walk, limited resilience | Low | Driving staff, accompanying person free of charge |
| Seated transport | Medically stable patients who need help | Medium | Driving staff, accompanying person free of charge |
| Private journey | Fully mobile people who need no help | High, no support | None |
How to proceed
1. Have the need confirmed by a doctor. Your doctor records that the transport is medically necessary and which type of transport is indicated.
2. Check your cover with your health insurer. Ask specifically about the annual maximum and what your supplementary insurance covers on top.
3. Book the transport. Online via our form or by phone on 0800 670 670 (free of charge). We will tell you the price in advance.
4. Submit the invoice. You receive an invoice, which you submit to your health insurer together with the medical prescription. On request, we invoice institutions by cost centre and case number.
Which type of transport do you need?: Stretcher transport · Wheelchair transport · Seated transport · Transport for pregnant women · Transport for people with disabilities · Wheelchair taxi service Basel · Hospital transfers · Rehab transport · Transport to medical examinations · Transport to the doctor · Transport service for seniors · Dialysis transport · Airport transfer · Medical repatriation & journeys abroad
Frequently asked questions about costs and cost coverage
Who pays for medical transport in Switzerland?
For medically necessary transport, compulsory health insurance (basic insurance) usually covers 50 per cent of the costs, up to an annual maximum. The rest is paid by the patient or by supplementary insurance. A medical prescription is usually required.
Do I need a medical prescription?
Usually yes, if your health insurer is to contribute to the costs. The prescription records that the transport is medically necessary and that another means of transport would not be reasonable. Without a prescription you can still book the transport privately — you then pay the costs yourself.
What is the difference between transport and rescue?
A transport carries a medically stable patient to an appointment, to a hospital or home. A rescue is an emergency mission with medical care during the journey. Health insurers treat the two differently — rescues are generally better covered.
Does health insurance pay for dialysis transport?
Dialysis transport is generally considered medically necessary transport and is therefore subject to the same contribution rule. Because the journeys are repeated several times a week, however, the annual maximum is quickly used up. Find out before you start how your insurer handles this.
Does health insurance cover repatriation from abroad?
Basic health insurance generally does not cover repatriation from abroad. It is usually paid for by travel insurance, supplementary insurance or an assistance organisation. Clarify this before you organise a repatriation.
How much does medical transport cost in Switzerland?
That depends on the type of transport, the distance and how much assistance is needed — stretcher transport with two staff costs more than a seated journey. For medically necessary transport with a medical prescription, basic health insurance usually covers half, up to an annual maximum.
How much does patient transport with Mobimed cost?
The price depends on the type of transport, the distance and how much assistance is needed. Call us on 0800 670 670 (free of charge) — you will receive a concrete answer before you book. Accompanying persons always travel free of charge.
Book transport — online, straight to our dispatch team
Client, patient, appointment — one form that goes directly to our dispatch team. Prefer to call? That works too.
The first IVR-recognised patient transport service in north-western Switzerland
Recognition by the Swiss Interassociation for Rescue Services (IVR/IAS) is not a self-assessment but the result of an external audit of vehicles, equipment, training and procedures. Mobimed was the first patient transport provider in north-western Switzerland to receive it — and still holds it today.
Check the certificate in the IVR register