This statement is absolutely FALSE.
Switzerland is actually the only country in Europe where ALL insurance is private.
.
Your statement is absolutely FALSE.
No need to apologize, I know you didn't mean to be wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Switzerland
[edit] Private cover
The compulsory insurance can be supplemented by private
"complementary" insurance policies that allow for coverage of some of the treatment categories not covered by the basic insurance or to improve the standard of room and service in case of hospitalisation. This can include
dental treatment and
private ward hospitalisation which are not covered by the compulsory insurance.
As far as the compulsory health insurance is concerned, the insurance companies cannot set any conditions relating to age, sex or state of health for coverage. Although the level of premium can vary from one company to another, they must be identical within the same company for all insured persons of the same age group, regardless of sex or state of health. This does not apply to complementary insurance, where premiums are risk-based.
[edit] Organization
The Swiss healthcare system is a combination of public, subsidised private and totally private systems:
- public: e. g. the University of Geneva Hospital (HUG) with 2,350 beds, 8,300 staff and 50,000 patients per year;
- subsidised private: the home care services to which one may have recourse in case of a difficult pregnancy, after childbirth, illness, accident, handicap or old age;
- totally private: doctors in private practice and in private clinics.
The insured person has full freedom of choice among the recognised healthcare providers competent to treat their condition (in his region) on the understanding that the costs are covered by the insurance up to the level of the official tariff. There is freedom of choice when selecting an insurance company (provided it is an officially registered
caisse-maladie or a private insurance company authorised by the Federal Act) to which one pays a premium, usually on a monthly basis.
The list of officially-approved insurance companies can be obtained from the
cantonal authority.