When does Rega pay?
With little money, you can become a Rega patron. But this does not mean that you receive free air rescue in an emergency. After all, Rega is not an insurance company.
A Rega patronage is a donation towards the Foundation. Rega is not an insurance company, but can "at its discretion and within the scope of its possibilities, partially or completely waive the costs of assistance provided by itself or organized by it for patrons, if insurance companies or other third parties are not liable to pay and do not have to pay or only partially pay for the costs of the mission". Rega is financed to the tune of over 60 percent by patronage contributions. It is also important to note that Rega does not carry out every air rescue operation in Switzerland.
Advantages of patronage
Firstly, as a patron, you and around 3.6 million other people in Switzerland are helping to maintain first-class air rescue services at home and abroad. This is because Rega does not receive any subsidies from the public purse. On the other hand, you may benefit from partial or complete waiver of the rescue costs if no insurance company or other third party pays for them. However, Rega always decides at its own discretion and within the scope of its possibilities. Moreover, the patronage contribution can be deducted from taxes as a donation in almost all of Switzerland. Please note the regulations in your canton of residence.
When does Rega get involved?
Rega will only reimburse members in part or in full for assistance provided by themselves or organized by Rega if no insurance or third party will pay for it.
What is worthwhile: Rega or insurance?
In principle, Rega only ever contributes to the financing of rescue costs on a voluntary basis. And only if no insurance or third party will pay for it. You should therefore definitely consider additional insurance cover, because rescues are often very expensive.
Accident insurance pays rescue costs of employees
Accident insurance comes into play in the event of an accident. There are two different types of accident insurance. Employees who work for an employer for more than 8 hours per week are insured by the employer against non-occupational accidents in accordance with the Swiss Federal Law on Accident Insurance (UVG). They also benefit from full coverage of rescue costs in the event of leisure-time accidents. Those who do not have occupational accident insurance need accident insurance from their health insurance company. This also applies to accidents in the EU/EFTA area. In the rest of the world, the accident insurance pays at most twice the amount of the costs that would have been incurred for treatment in Switzerland. Here it can be expensive, depending on the case.
Health insurance - supplementary insurance covers rescue costs
A supplementary outpatient insurance policy starting at around Fr. 11.10 per month covers the costs of medical and emergency transport at home and abroad all year round. Alternatively, before traveling to countries with very high health costs, especially the USA, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, you can take out a one-off travel insurance policy specifically for the duration of your stay.
Caution: If you are preemptively rescued uninjured from an awkward situation (for example, if you have gotten lost in the mountains), then you may be threatened with a lengthy legal dispute. Such operations are usually not paid by the insurance and must be examined in each individual case.
How much does a Rega rescue mission cost?
A rescue mission by helicopter (without additional rescue specialists, for example in the mountains) costs on average around CHF 3,500. A Rega membership per year costs Fr. 40.- (for couples and families Fr. 80.-).
Source: Rega
