Optical

Corrective eyeglasses (including contact lenses, bifocal or trifocal lenses or progressive lenses or any other corrective lens) are covered provided that they are certified as necessary by an oculist, ophtalmologist, optician or optometrist.

Reimbursement is at 80% subject to a maximum annual ceiling of CHF 525 per annum.

Effective 1 January 2023 the optical credit is no longer split between lenses and frames.

 

Attention: for temporary staff with contracts of less than 3 months, optical care is excluded.

 

VERY IMPORTANT Please note:

  • The prescription must indicate the corrective value in dioptres. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS WILL RESULT IN REIMBURSEMENT BEING DECLINED
  • The annual ceiling of CHF 525 can both be accumulated over a maximum period of two calendar years (i.e. the maximum ceiling can be CHF 1,050 the second calendar year assuming no optical expenses were submitted for reimbursement during the first year)
  • The Supplementary Plan is NOT applicable in the case of Optical Care.
  • In the case of new membership the annual ceiling is accrued on a prorata monthly basis. For example member who joined the society three months ago will not have the full annual ceiling, they will accrue 1/12 of the CHF 525 ceiling every calendar month. After 3 months the insured member will have accrued 3/12 of the annual ceiling.
  • For staff joining UNSMIS who have been covered under a similiar plan of the United Nations family of Organization for more than two years without any break of affiliation, the full annual credit given will be available from the first day of affiliation (upon presentation of an attestation of coverage from the previous insurance).

 

The Optical Credit Balance changes at the start of each year because you can accumulate credits only over two calendar years. It is important to note that due to the 24 month accumulation limit, expenses will always erode the credits of the current year and subsequently any carry over from the previous year. Hence if you have in 2022 a balance of CHF 525 and CHF 300 carried over from 2021, you have a total credit of CHF 825 for 2022. If you are reimbursed CHF 525 in 2022 for optical expenses dated 2022, you will have no credit carried over to 2023 as firstly the 2022 credit is eroded.
 

Refractive Surgery of the Cornea (Laser Surgery)

The procedure is reimbursed at 90% subject to a ceiling of CHF 2,000 per eye as a lifetime limit.
 

Intravitreal Injection

All doctor fees for the intravitreal injection, where applicable, are reimbursed at 80% subject to maximum of CHF 500.
 

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is reimbursed at 90% up to a maximum of CHF2,500 per eye, with the exception of Femtocatarct (laser surgery) which is reimbursed at 90% up to a maximum of CHF 1,500 per eye.

Supplements for specific lenses are reimbursed under the optical credit.

Femtocataract surgery requires the Prior Authorization of the medical adviser.
 

VERY IMPORTANT Please note:

  • The Supplementary Plan is NOT applicable in the case of Optical Care.
  • Refractive surgery for presbystia is not reimbursable.