Treatment costs of abortion

The cost of abortion treatment depends on the method used. It is possible to pay for the treatment either in cash or with a card at a flat rate, or to pay for it regularly through your health insurance.

We will discuss with you whether you would like to pay for the abortion treatment through your health insurance company or through a flat-rate payment, which is somewhat cheaper. The flat-rate payment is significantly lower than the health insurance billing, especially for surgical abortion. If you do not have health insurance or if you have the maximum deductible, (2500 CHF per year), this option may be advantageous for you. You cannot have the flat-rate payment reimbursed by the health insurance company. If you are billed by your health insurance company, we will usually send the invoice directly to your health insurance company. If you choose the surgical method, this will take place in 2 consultations. Therefore, you will receive 2 medical bills*.

If you choose the flat rate for the abortion treatment cost, it must be paid directly after the consultation. This is possible in cash or by card payment (except Postcard). Payment of the flat rate by invoice or payment in rates is not possible.

Flat rates

Medical abortion

CHF 750.-

Surgical abortion

CHF 1100.-

for surgical abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy

CHF 1300.-

NOT included in the flat-rate payment (VVG) are external laboratory costs such as:

– Blood group determination in the absence of a blood group certificate

– Anti-0 syringe (Rhophylac) CHF 100; if blood group Rhesus negative

– Determination of the pregnancy hormone beta HCG once or several times; in the case of early pregnancy

– Additional consultation appointments:

– If the pregnancy is not (yet) visible
– If you are undecided and need more time to think about it
– If the follow-up shows that the treatment was not successful
– Further necessary examinations, e.g. for very early pregnancies or if the localization cannot be clearly determined

Health insurance costs (KVG)

The costs according to KVG for a medical abortion are about CHF 750.- to CHF 800.-.

The total costs (*for both medical bills) according to KVG for surgical abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy are approx. CHF 1350.- to CHF 1550.-. The amounts may vary. External laboratory costs are not included.

Depending on your health insurance company (e.g. Assura), it is possible that you may have to make a down payment of our flat rate at the time of treatment. At the end of the treatment you will receive the fee invoice and a reimbursement receipt, which you should send to your health insurance company (Tiers Payant).

Costs of abortion treatment for adolescents

The treatment costs of abortion are among the compulsory benefits of health insurance, even for adolescents.

Adolescents under the age of 16 have the right to medical confidentiality with respect to their parents. However, the person who pays the health insurance premium (usually the parents) receives a detailed account of the treatment costs, for example in the case of an abortion. The same applies to adults over the age of 18, such as students, who do not pay their own health insurance premium.

If a teenager is in a situation where she wants to keep the abortion a secret, she must clarify the situation with her own health insurance company before the abortion. She must find an arrangement for billing. Since this must be discussed individually with each health insurance company, there is no universal solution.

Often it is important that the young person explicitly insists that there is no postal correspondence with the parents. Sometimes the bill must be paid immediately after treatment. It may be important, for example, that the bill is not issued electronically, but in paper form. In most cases, doctors now bill the health insurance company directly (electronically). As a result, the insured teen loses control over where the bill is sent with the abortion treatment costs.

So for the health insurance company it means extra work to comply with your request, although they are obliged to do so.

Method choice and cost: The pregnancy is now in the early 5th week. Which method is best to terminate the pregnancy? How long does this treatment last and what does it cost?

Up to 7 weeks after the beginning of the last menstrual period, the medical method is most gentle for most women. As the pregnancy progresses, medical abortion becomes increasingly painful.
In Switzerland, medical abortions are only permitted up to the 49th day of pregnancy as a compulsory service of the health insurance company; in the EU, however, the allowance is valid for up to 63 days. Medical abortions are technically (adapted dosages) still possible much later. In the case of early pregnancy, medication can be administered on an outpatient basis. As a rule, one day of inability to work must be considered for the expulsion under Cytotec®.

With 7 weeks or more I recommend a chirurgical procedure with local anesthesia. Prior to 6 weeks, the success and completeness of a surgical procedure can neither be checked by ultrasound nor by direct control of the material; which I consider to be a small safety risk. For an out-patient abortion under local anesthesia, the woman has to spend 2 hours in the doctor’s office or half a day in the clinic. In addition, a preliminary talk is necessary. Information about the costs can be found here.

Abortion in Liechtenstein? What about patients living in the Principality of Liechtenstein or elsewhere abroad? Do you also carry out abortions with medication if the patient wishes?

Yes, of course, any regulations in Liechtenstein do not apply to our treatments. Swiss law applies. Decisive is the pregnant woman’s signed and confirmed wish and decision to have an abortion performed up to 12 weeks after the beginning of the last menstrual period. In theory, Liechtenstein law asserts that you are liable to prosecution if you have an abortion carried out in Switzerland / abroad. However, it is doubtful whether this would be valid under European law.
Surgical abortion can be performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia in the medical office or with short-term anesthesia in the clinic. You can arrive on the same day and then go back home. If you have an abortion with medication, you only have to take the first medication (Mifegyne®) with your physician. If you take the second medication (Cytotec®) at home, medical care (in particular telephone availability) and follow-up checks have to be guaranteed.

Will my health insurance company be informed about an abortion? If I am pregnant, I would like to have an abortion. I would then have to do this anonymously. I do not want my health insurance company to be informed of this under any circumstances. Is this possible with you?

An abortion can be paid for privately by us and in many other places without the health insurance company having to know about it. We assure you full control over your data.

What does an abortion cost?

An abortion costs a flat rate of CHF 750.- (medical) or CHF 1100.- (surgical). The average costs were determined in a study in French-speaking Switzerland that took place some time ago and at that time were estimated at two thirds more than CHF 1000.- and in one third as much as CHF 1500.- to 3500.-.
My own research in the city of Zurich shows the following: The lowest costs for an abortion are for registered physicians (CHF 800.- to 1000.-). In hospitals, the costs are usually somewhat higher. Surgical abortion costs about CHF 800.- to 1400.- for registered physicians. At the hospital, costs of CHF 1800.- to 2200.- can be expected.