Outpatient or inpatient: full coverage in hospital
These days, more and more procedures are being performed without an overnight stay in hospital. Find out how outpatient and inpatient treatments differ and what this means for your insurance cover.
Thanks to medical advances, many procedures can now be performed on an outpatient basis. Patients go to a hospital or medical practice for treatment and can return home on the same day. For certain procedures, outpatient treatment is even required by law, provided there are no medical reasons to the contrary. These legal requirements aim to ensure high-quality care while at the same time reducing healthcare costs. Whether an inpatient stay is necessary is ultimately up to your doctor and depends on your state of health and the type of procedure.
Important to know: Treatment in hospital is not automatically inpatient treatment. That means your insurance depends on whether you go home after the procedure or stay in hospital for at least one night, rather than the place of treatment itself.
Outpatient or inpatient – the difference explained
Outpatient
An outpatient operation means you leave the hospital or medical practice on the day of the procedure – without staying overnight. Supplementary outpatient insurance offers you additional benefits, such as free choice of doctor and comfort benefits such as a separate recovery zone, a taxi ride home or a parking space. Coverage can also include contributions to household help or an overnight stay before or after certain outpatient procedures.
Inpatient
An inpatient operation means you will stay in hospital for at least one night. This is necessary, for example, after major operations or for treatments that require close medical monitoring. The advantage is the comprehensive care you get around the clock. With supplementary hospital insurance, depending on your insurance model, you enjoy additional benefits such as free choice of doctor, a two-bed or one-bed room, an expert second opinion or hospital stays abroad.
Full coverage with PRIMEO and HOSPITAL
Not every treatment in hospital is automatically covered by supplementary hospital insurance. More and more procedures are being performed on an outpatient basis. Outpatient and inpatient supplementary insurance therefore complement each other perfectly. They ensure that you always enjoy additional comfort benefits.
Together, the two supplementary insurance policies ensure full coverage – whether you go home after treatment or stay overnight in hospital.
Examples of outpatient operations
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) continuously updates the list of procedures that should generally be performed on an outpatient basis. These include:
- Knee arthroscopy and procedures of the meniscus
- Unilateral varicose vein operations on the leg
- Change or removal of pacemakers
- Procedures of the cervix or uterus
Depending on the patient’s state of health or any concomitant illnesses, the same procedure may also be performed on an inpatient basis. This is up to your doctor.
Examples of inpatient operations
Inpatient treatments are usually necessary if medical monitoring or care is required after the procedure. These include:
- Hip, shoulder or ankle replacements
- Birth, including caesarean section
- Operations on the abdominal area (e.g. intestinal tract)
Frequently asked questions
This is up to your doctor. Various factors play a role – such as the type of procedure, your general state of health and any concomitant illnesses. In addition, Swiss law mandates that certain procedures generally be performed on an outpatient basis, provided there are no medical reasons to the contrary.
Yes. Many hospitals offer both outpatient and inpatient treatments. In addition, there are specialised day clinics and outpatient clinics that only perform outpatient procedures. So it is actually the state of your health and your doctor’s decision that determines whether you receive outpatient or inpatient treatment rather than the location of the treatment.
The details of the process depend on the procedure and your state of health. In most cases, outpatient treatment proceeds as follows:
- Preparation: Before the procedure, your doctor will inform you about the treatment. In some cases, you will need an empty stomach. The consultation with the anaesthetist will take place either in advance of the treatment or on the day of the treatment.
- Arrival at the hospital or day clinic: Once you have registered, the final administrative and medical preparations will be made. You will then be prepared for the procedure.
- Treatment: The procedure will be carried out as planned – under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the treatment.
- Recovery: After treatment, you will first be looked after in the recovery room or outpatient unit until you have sufficiently recovered.
- Follow-up examination and discharge: Before you go home, your doctor will examine you again. If there are no complications, you can leave the hospital on the same day.
The details of the process depend on the procedure and your state of health. In most cases, inpatient treatment proceeds as follows:
- Hospital admission: Depending on the treatment, you will be admitted to hospital on the day of the procedure or the day before. Any remaining administrative matters are taken care of before the procedure.
- Preparation: If you have not already consulted with the anaesthetist, you will do so now. You will then be prepared for the procedure.
- Treatment: The procedure will be carried out as planned. You will then be cared for in the recovery room.
- Follow-up examination and stay: As soon as you are awake and stable again, your doctor will examine you. You will then be transferred to your room. During your stay, you will be medically monitored and receive nursing care and support while you recover.
- Discharge: You can leave hospital as soon as your state of health allows. Your doctor will inform you about further treatment and aftercare at home.
Which supplementary insurance is right for you?
Do you already have supplementary hospital insurance?
Then we recommend adding PRIMEO supplementary outpatient insurance to your insurance cover. This gives you additional benefits for outpatient treatments.
Do you already have supplementary outpatient insurance?
Then we recommend HOSPITAL supplementary hospital insurance. This gives you additional benefits for inpatient hospital stays such as greater comfort and free choice of doctor.
Do you want full coverage?
PRIMEO and HOSPITAL offer additional benefits for both outpatient and inpatient treatments. This gives you full coverage, regardless of the type of treatment you receive.
Do you have questions?
We're here to help.