Screening tests and check-ups: what is recommended?

A screening test or a check-up is a preventive health check performed by your family doctor (GP) to detect conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart problems at an early stage. A check-up in Switzerland includes the following:

• Anamnesis: checking your medical history
• Physical examination: whole body check-up by the GP
• Laboratory testing of blood and urine: to measure your blood sugar or cholesterol, for example.
• Instrumental examinations: additional examinations, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or ultrasound, will be performed if necessary.

Your GP can advise and recommend the screening tests that would be most appropriate for you based on:

• Your current state of health and medical history
• Family history
• Individual risk factors such as smoking, stress, obesity
• Age
• Gender

Health check-ups help to identify risk factors and conditions at an early stage. Medical advice is important to weigh up the risks and benefits of a health check. The following general tests are recommended:

Blood pressure measurement

• Blood pressure measurement and monitoring can help detect high blood pressure at an early stage. Untreated, high blood pressure can cause a heart attack, stroke or brain haemorrhage.
• Blood pressure measurement is part of the regular check-up with the GP. For anyone not considered at risk, a blood pressure check is recommended every three to five years from the age of 18.

Cholesterol test

• The cholesterol test measures the blood lipid levels to assess your risk of heart disease.
• The cholesterol test is part of the regular GP check-up. For men with no risk factors, a test is recommended every five years from the age of 40 and for women with no risk factors, it is recommended every five years from the age of 50.

Blood glucose testing

• The blood glucose test is a screening test for diabetes.It is part of the regular GP check-up. For men
• with no risk factors, a test is recommended every one to three years from the age of 40 and for women with no risk factors, it is recommended every one to three years from the age of 50.

Cancer screening

Screening tests for cancer include:

• Mammograms for the early detection of breast cancer: recommended for women between 50 and 75 years of age after a medical consultation and weighing up the risks and benefits.
• Pap tests for the early detection of cervical cancer: recommended every three years for women between the ages of 20 and 70.
• Colonoscopy or stool test for the early detection of bowel cancer: recommended for men and women with no risk factors every ten years (colonoscopy) or every two years (stool test) between the ages of 50 and 75.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening: recommended for men aged between 50 and 70, following consultation with the GP.
• Full body skin check for the early detection of skin cancer: recommended for people with more than 50 moles, abnormal skin changes and first-degree relatives with melanoma or actinic keratosis. The frequency is determined individually in consultation with the doctor.

Bone density measurement

• Bone density measurement is used for the early detection of bone loss.
• It is recommended for women with no risk factors from the age of 65, and also for men from 65 years of age in the case of unexplained bone fractures.

Eye examination and sight test

An  eye examination includes tests for visual acuity, impaired vision, intraocular pressure and examinations for cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration.

The following are recommended:

• Children with no risk factors: initial examination at 6 months of age, then at 3 years, when starting school and every 2 years until the age of 18
• From the age of 18, tests are carried out every two to three years
• Annual checks from 61 years
• In case of sight problems or risk factors such as a family history of eye disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, monitoring should be more frequent.

Vaccinations

The following are recommended:

• Basic vaccinations in accordance with the Swiss vaccination schedule
• Regular review of vaccination status and booster vaccinations in accordance with the Swiss vaccination schedule.

• Prostate exam  (prostate cancer screening)
• Testicular examination
• Testosterone level measurement
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening

• Mammogram
• Pap test (cervical cancer screening)
• HPV test
• Bone density measurement (osteoporosis screening)
• Gynaecological screening

The costs for a check-up or health check in Switzerland vary. Basic health insurance covers a number of tests for the early diagnosis and prevention of some health conditions. Additional tests may be covered under supplementary health insurance or have to be paid for yourself. Costs can range from a few francs for a cholesterol test, for example, to over 200 francs for a lung X-ray. Depending on the tests or examinations involved (lab tests, urine sample, ECG, physical examination, consultations etc.), costs can soon run to several hundred francs.

Some tests associated withhttps://www.kpt.ch/en/knowledge-base/gynecology-exam preventive health care in Switzerland are covered under compulsory health insurance. The law defines the applicable patient ages for the different tests and the frequency of testing for cost reimbursement. Wider or more frequent testing may be covered under supplementary health insurance.

Which health screening tests does basic health insurance cover?

Basic health insurance covers various tests for the early detection and prevention of disease. These include, for example:

• For children: development checks for newborns and hip screening. Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life as well as pre-school health check-ups and recommended vaccinations.
• Gynaecological screening every three years, including cervical screening and mammogram in women over 50 years of age or those at increased risk of breast cancer.
• Prophylactic vaccinations such as tetanus, MMR and diphtheria.
• Colonoscopy between the ages of 50 and 69 years and in patients with a family history of bowel cancer.

What health checks are covered under supplementary health insurance?

Each health insurer determines independently which screening tests are covered under their supplementary health insurance. Pulse supplementary outpatient insurance from KPT contributes towards:

• General testing (e.g. HIV tests or ophthalmological examinations in the absence of suspected disease)
• Gynaecological screening (covered under basic health insurance every three years; check-ups in the intervening years are covered under supplementary health insurance)
• Vaccinations that are not covered under basic health insurance (e.g. vaccinations for travel).

For extra contributions towards preventive healthcare and screening services, we recommend Pulse benefit classes Top or Premium.
With Pulse (Top and Premium), you can, for example, claim back 75% of the costs of a complete physical examination and whole-body MRI scan by Care and Ahead Health.