First things first: 117 is the police, 118 is the fire brigade, 144 is the ambulance service and 1414 is the air rescue service, Rega. These four numbers operate throughout Switzerland 365 days a year and in any language. If the operator cannot assist you in Spanish, they will put you through to someone who can. They aren’t in your passport, they aren’t in any welcome leaflet, and there are people who find themselves looking for them at the most inconvenient moment. Save them now.
What many people don’t realise is that calling 144 isn’t free in the way we usually understand it. The call itself is free, but the service isn’t. Basic LAMal insurance covers part of the cost of ambulance transport: in theory, half, up to a maximum of CHF 500 per year for standard transport, or up to CHF 5,000 in the case of a rescue operation. The problem is that an ambulance in Switzerland can easily cost between CHF 500 and CHF 1,500 just for the journey, depending on the canton and the duration of the call-out. Whatever the insurance doesn’t cover, you pay out of your own pocket.
The most striking example is mountain rescue. Rega dispatches helicopters when the situation requires it, and a single operation can cost between 3,000 and 50,000 francs. If you are a Rega member, the annual fee is around CHF 40 for an adult or CHF 70 for a family, and the cost of the rescue not covered by basic insurance is waived directly. If you are not a member, you receive the full bill for what the LAMal does not cover. It is one of those things that locals in Switzerland know perfectly well, but which nobody explains to newcomers.
It is also worth mentioning the TCS: its assistance service covers certain medical transfers and can supplement what the LAMal does not pay for. It is not the same as Rega, and it does not always cover mountain emergencies, but for road traffic accidents or medical situations whilst travelling, it can be useful depending on the policy you have. In any case, the key point to remember is that in Switzerland, emergency services are excellent, but they are not free, and knowing exactly what your insurance covers before you need it makes all the difference.