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Accident
Any damaging, sudden and involuntary injury caused to the human body by an extraordinary external factor, which results in an impairment of physical or mental health.
Acupuncture
Therapy based on two concepts patiently developed by the Chinese over millennia: the concept of energy and the existence of privileged skin areas known as points.
Affiliation - obligation to be insured
Since 1 January 1996, anyone living in Switzerland must take out insurance against illness, or be insured by his/her legal representative, within three months of taking up residence, or from the time of birth in Switzerland (LAMal/KVG, Art. 3.1).
Alternative health care models or Managed Care models
Health insurance models offering insureds the choice of a main contact (doctors or medical advice call centres) acting as a hub for all their health questions. Insureds accept a restricted choice. In exchange, insureds can obtain premiums up to 20% cheaper depending on the savings achieved thanks to the insurance model and according to the authorization of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Alternative medicine or naturopathy
Covers what is known as alternative or complementary medicine: naturopathy, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, sophrology, etc. There are more than 200 different methods of alternative medicine practiced by some 25,000 therapists.
Appeal
An insured who disagrees with the Insurer's decision may lodge an appeal. The appeal shall be filed within 30 days after the date of notification of the decision made on the opposition before the Insurance Court of the insured's canton of residence. Disputes between insurers and healthcare providers are settled by the arbitral tribunal of the canton whose rate is applied, or by the canton in which the healthcare provider holds permanent residence. The opposition procedure is free of charge (LGPA/ATSG Art. 61).
APTN
Association des Praticiens en Thérapies Naturelles (association of natural therapy practitioners)
ASCA
Fondation suisse pour les médecines complémentaires
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