Health insurance knowledge base | 8.6.2026
KPT customers have access to 24/7 telemedical advice even when travelling. If you get sick while abroad, you can obtain immediate medical advice by calling the SOS number. Read on to discover everything you need to know prior to departure.
If you get sick or have an accident while abroad, report this immediately by calling the SOS number +41 58 310 99 99. You will also find this number on your KPT Card.
KPT and its partners will help to:
Important: leave all coordination matters to KPT and its partners. If you organise the above measures yourself, the costs will not be covered. This applies, for example, to transportation to hospital or return transport to Switzerland.
If receiving medical treatment in EU and EFTA countries, always present your KPT Card as proof of your health insurance cover. This is your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and is needed by doctors and hospitals to settle costs directly with KPT. If you do not have your KPT Card with you, call the SOS number +41 58 310 99 99. KPT will send a replacement certificate to the doctor or hospital.
Outside the EU/EFTA, KPT and its partners will coordinate the commitment to cover costs and the cost coverage in the event of medical emergencies. If you have to pay for treatment directly while abroad, when applying for the costs to be reimbursed, always send us the original bills together with the illness notification. You can do this by post or in the KPT app.
The costs will be reimbursed in line with the statutory and contractual conditions.
If you need to be returned home for treatment following an accident or illness abroad, KPT will organise this return transport. It is important for you to report any such emergency immediately by calling the SOS number +41 58 310 99 99.
If you organise your return transport independently; for example, via the Swiss air rescue service Rega, KPT will pay a maximum of 200 francs.
Supplementary holiday and travel insurance provides you with additional protection in the event of medical emergencies and unexpected incidents while abroad.
Pulse supplementary outpatient insurance and KPT supplementary hospital insurance come with travel and holiday insurance included for up to eight weeks per calendar year. If you travel for longer or do not have any such supplementary insurance, you can also take out travel and holiday insurance separately.
People who live or work abroad on a long-term basis require a different insurance solution to those travelling for leisure.
With international health insurance from KPT, you remain insured according to Swiss standards even if you emigrate. This voluntary insurance covers medical treatment worldwide.
Special rules apply to people who move to an EU or EFTA country and receive a salary or pension from Switzerland. They need to take out special EU/EFTA health insurance.
Our team is here to assist you Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. On request, we can also offer you a consultation at a pre-arranged time and date, for example during your lunch break.
Thomas Stucki is a KPT product manager with considerable knowledge of the health insurance market. Drawing on many years of experience in product development, market analysis and trend monitoring, he shares valuable insights into the world of health insurance products on our blog.
There are several important health and insurance-related matters you should deal with before travelling abroad.
Pack your health insurance card:
always pack your KPT Card to present if you need treatment in an EU/EFTA country. You receive your KPT Card when you take out basic health insurance with KPT.
Download the KPT app:
install the KPT app on your smartphone. You can then access your information on the KPTnet customer portal whenever you need it.
Download the KPT app (Apple Store)
Download the KPT app (Google Store)
Check your insurance cover:
check your policies. We particularly recommend travel and holiday insurance, which you can take out with immediate effect and separately to health insurance. This is automatically included with Pulse supplementary outpatient insurance and KPT supplementary hospital insurance policies for eight weeks per calendar year.
Obtain information:
visit the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) website to find out about the general safety and security situation in the country to which you are travelling and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) website to find out about medical recommendations and risks.
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