UNSMIS has agreements with a wide range of medical providers and assistance companies worldwide, enabling seamless admission to facilities and often allowing for direct payment by UNSMIS to doctors or medical establishments. Additionally, in certain regions, UNSMIS has tariff agreements with selected providers to prevent costs from becoming excessive for both you and UNSMIS.
As an insured member of UNSMIS, you may seek treatment from any medical professional recognized by the national health authority of the country of treatment. takes place in a medical facility, it must also be recognized by the national health authority of the country where the treatment is provided.
On this page, we first explain tariff agreements, direct payment, and letters of guarantee of payment. Then, we provide essential information on the claiming process, taking into account the specific region where you intend to receive treatment or purchase medication.
Tariff agreements
UNSMIS negotiates tariff agreements with various healthcare providers to ensure high-quality care at reasonable rates. These agreements help control medical costs and keep premiums affordable for members. Thanks to tariff agreements established in Switzerland and Bonn, Germany, insured members are not required to obtain a quote in advance for medical interventions. In addition, bills are often settled directly by UNSMIS.
Public hospitals with which UNSMIS has a tariff agreement: hospitalization, surgeon’s fees, assistant’s fees, and anaesthetist’s fees are often grouped into a single invoice. A letter of guarantee is issued to secure payment. UNSMIS settles the invoice directly and recovers any out-of-pocket amounts from the insured.
Private clinics with which UNSMIS has a tariff agreement: hospitalization will be secured by a letter of guarantee, and no advance quote is required.
Direct payment
For non-emergency hospitalizations requiring an overnight stay, insured members are not required to pay anything upfront. To simplify the process and reduce the financial burden, UNSMIS will cover the full cost—i.e., 100%—of the bill and subsequently recover any out-of-pocket expenses. Specific conditions may vary by location; please refer to the section below for more detailed information.
Guarantee of payment
If direct payment is not available at the medical facility where you plan to receive treatment, UNSMIS can still issue a guarantee of payment to the hospital or clinic, confirming your valid medical insurance coverage.
By Region
Europe
In Switzerland, UNSMIS has tariff and direct payment agreements with a wide range of medical providers in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. These agreements aim to expand our network of service providers offering high-quality care at reasonable rates. They are a key component of our cost-containment strategy and have successfully helped curb expenditure trends. In recent years, UNSMIS has consistently outperformed global medical inflation—particularly in Switzerland, where the majority of UNSMIS’s medical reimbursements occur.
For a full list of providers with which we have agreements in the Swiss cantons of Geneva and Vaud, please refer to our information circular (available here).
In Bonn, Germany, UNSMIS provides insurance coverage for over 1,300 staff members, retirees and eligible family members of multiple UN agencies. Currently, UNSMIS has two tariff and direct payment agreements covering several medical establishments in the city. For a full list of providers or to request direct payment, please go to ‘Find A Provider’ → ‘Europe’ → ‘Bonn’ on the eClaims portal.
Once your request is received, we will arrange direct payment with the medical provider and cover the full bill (i.e., 100% of the costs). Any out-of-pocket amounts will then be recovered from you. Most active staff members will receive a reimbursement notice in advance, detailing the medical costs to be recovered via payroll. Retired members will receive a bill with instructions on how to proceed with payment.
In France, if you are hospitalized in a public medical establishment in France, you must pay all bills or fees. When you pay, you will be given the "avis des sommes à payer" for reimbursement purposes. In case of a hospitalisation in a private establishment (clinic), you should submit the "facture détaillée des frais de séjour (ref. Form 615)”.
In other regions of Europe, direct payment to medical providers may not be guaranteed. However, if you require assistance, please contact us at unsmis@un.org. If direct payment is not possible, you will need to settle the invoice directly with the provider and then submit your claim to UNSMIS for reimbursement.
Africa, Asia, Central and South America
In Africa, Asia, as well as Central and South America, UNSMIS facilitates access to medical practitioners and admission to facilities through a globally renowned assistance company. In many cases, this partnership includes a direct payment agreement for non-emergency inpatient treatment. For a comprehensive list of providers or to request direct payment, please click on 'Find a Provider' in the eClaims portal, where you can filter by geographic location, services, and more.
Once your request is received, we will coordinate with our assistance company to arrange direct payment with the medical provider. The assistance company will cover the full bill (i.e., 100% of the costs). We will then reimburse the assistance company and recover any out-of-pocket expenses from you. Most active staff members will receive a reimbursement notice in advance, detailing the medical costs to be recovered via payroll. Retired members will receive a bill with instructions on how to proceed with payment.
North America
In Canada, patients are generally not required to pay before discharge and instead receive the bill afterward. Once you receive the bill, you may submit it unpaid via eClaims. UNSMIS will then transfer its share of the total cost to you, enabling you to settle the bill.
For details on planned medical treatments in the USA—including applicable benefits, limitations, and direct payment to US providers—please refer to the article 'Treatments in the USA'.