The Swiss Conference on Social Assistance (SKOS) does not itself offer advice to social assistance recipients and their families.

However, it provides addresses for private and public counseling centers and ombudsman offices in each canton (see SKOS website) that perform this task.

It also provides the addresses of social services in the municipalities and regions that those affected can contact.

How does social assistance work? Explained in simple language – in German only

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Caritas Switzerland supports people in precarious situations, irrespective of their religious and political views or their ethnicity. Furthermore, Caritas is committed to improving the social, political and economic conditions for people affected by poverty in Switzerland. 

Due to the need for dialysis, there is an entitlement to an IV pension of up to 50%. The assessment of disability eligibility takes at least 2 years from the time of application, and the disability pension is paid retroactively. Whether you lose your disability insurance (IV) benefits after an organ transplant in Switzerland depends largely on how your ability to work changes due to the transplant.

Here are the key points:

1. Does your health condition improve significantly?

If you are able to work again (either fully or partially) after the transplant, the IV may adjust or discontinue your benefits. The IV is required to regularly assess whether your health condition has improved. The first review typically occurs 3-4 months after the transplant. The review process includes:

• Medical assessments
• Expert opinions
• Ongoing health checks

2. How does this process work in practice?

If there is an improvement in your ability to work, the IV will:

• Conduct a pension revision (Art. 17 ATSG)
• Check whether a partial or full pension is still justified
• Possibly assess integration or vocational measures

3. When do you keep the pension despite the transplant?

You will continue to receive the IV pension if:

• You are still unable to work, or only partially able to work, or
• There are medical complications or additional medical or psychological reasons that severely limit your ability to work.

Tip:

If you are affected or have an upcoming transplant:

• Contact your IV office EARLY
• Seek accompaniment from a social worker (e.g., Pro Infirmis, Pro Senectute, transplant centers, hospital chaplaincy)

Initial situation:  According to Art. 25 para. 2g KVG and Art. 26 KLAV, an insured passenger is generally entitled to have the costs of medically prescribed transport paid or reimbursed by their basic insurance, regardless of the means of transport chosen, if the transport cannot be carried out by public transport. Health insurance companies often decide independently whether the use of public transport is reasonable. However, according to Art. 26 para. 1 KLV, the health insurance company’s contribution from basic insurance is only 50% of the costs, or a maximum of CHF 500 per calendar year. A higher or more comprehensive reimbursement of the corresponding transport costs by health insurance companies depends on the supplementary insurance policies taken out by the insured person

A ruling by the Federal Insurance Court on September 2, 1998 (based on a specific case) confirmed in principle that health insurance companies are obliged to pay for medically prescribed transport costs in accordance with the KVG.

In addition, the decision of the Federal Insurance Court requires

• that the medical necessity of the transport must be confirmed by a doctor;
• that the transport provider is licensed under cantonal law and has concluded a contract with the health insurer.

Request a medical certificate from your doctor.

• Request an invoice/receipt for the trips taken from the transport service (driver or operations manager).
• Submit the medical certificate together with the invoice/receipt to your health insurer.
•  If your health insurer rejects your claim, remind them of their fundamental obligation to pay benefits under the KVG (see above). If necessary, refer to the decision of the Federal Insurance Court of September 2, 1998 (see above).

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Transport services in general

The best and most affordable transport services are those offered by the SRK. These are available in almost every canton. You only pay a fee per kilometer. 

For trips to and from dialysis, you have to calculate double the price for all transport services, as the drivers cannot wait.

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The purpose of our association is to promote and develop medical, social, educational, and other activities in close cooperation with doctors, Swisstransplant, the Swiss Society of Nephrology, nursing professionals (IG-Nephrologie), Swiss social institutions, and related umbrella organizations. It takes all necessary administrative or legal steps to protect the interests of kidney patients in general.

Are you looking for a Swiss dialysis center?

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Federal Social Insurance Office FSIO

The FSIO controls the work of implementing institutions and prepares the ongoing alignment of the law to changing social reality. The FSIO has certain enforcement tasks in the field of posting.

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Self-help Switzerland

People in similar life situations come together to help each other.
Community self-help can take various forms: self-help groups, networking between individuals, and self-help services on the Internet.