Hospitalization in an approved medical establishment (in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 7 in Rule VIII of the Internal Rules) encompasses inpatient care provided by the staff of the establishment and other standard services offered by the facility. Ambulatory treatments or procedures performed in a hospital are not considered hospitalization cases.

The reimbursement rate depends on the type of room that you stay in:

• The cost of hospitalization in a public ward of a public establishment is reimbursed at a 100% rate. In Switzerland, this applies to public wards with at least six beds.
• In most other cases, the cost of hospitalization is reimbursed at a 90% rate. This applies to stays in a two-bed or semi-private room. The Supplementary Plan is applicable.
• The costs of a private room are only reimbursable up to 90% of the price of a stay in a semi-private room in the same establishment. The Supplementary Plan is applicable with the same limit.
• Hospitalization in an establishment not providing semi-private care and only offering private rooms, approved by the competent health authorities of the country concerned, is reimbursed at a 75% rate. In this case, the Supplementary Plan is not applicable.

Emergency hospitalization is reimbursed according to the same rates as standard hospital stays. The fact that a situation qualifies as an emergency does not entail reimbursement at a 100% rate.

Taking into consideration the above, costs strictly pertaining to your stay at the establishment (e.g., bed, meals) are reimbursed at the applicable rate among the above options, while all medical care received (e.g., surgery, laboratory tests, examinations) are each reimbursed at their own rates figuring in Annex III of our Internal Rules.

If a package price is applied by the medical establishment, costs relating to your stay at the hospital will be considered 20% of the total billed amount and reimbursed at the applicable room rate. The remaining 80% of the total billed amount—including all examinations, treatments, and medications—is reimbursed at a flat rate of 90%. In this case, the Supplementary Plan is applicable.

If your hospitalization extends to a period longer than 30 days, it is essential to request the prior authorization of the Medical Adviser for continued entitlement to coverage by UNSMIS.

Regardless of the length of hospitalization, prior authorization must be requested in cases of hospitalization for treatments listed in the following document:

When do I need prior authorization from the Society's Medical Adviser?

If you decide or need to obtain medical care (e.g., hospitalization, surgery) away from the duty station or the place of residence, at a place where medical costs are higher than in Geneva, reimbursement shall not exceed the usual, customary and reasonable pricing of the given treatment in the country where it is performed, or the cost of equivalent treatment provided in the Canton of Geneva. For special rules applicable to the United States of America, please see the dedicated page 'Treatments in the USA'.

Following surgery or any inpatient treatment, convalescence in a hospital or in a semi-hospital establishment is reimbursable at a rate of 80% for up to thirty days. This encompasses the cost of the accommodation, as well as all the necessary care and treatment received in the approved establishment of your choice. 

Any extension of your stay beyond thirty days is subject to prior authorization by the Medical Adviser. If medically necessary and approved by the Medical Adviser, from the thirty-first day onward, all costs (accommodation, care, treatment) may still be reimbursed at a rate of 80%; however, a daily ceiling of CHF 60.- is applied.