ABOUT THIS EDITION
Dear Insured Member,
We are delighted to present the May edition of the bimonthly UNSMIS newsletter!
In this issue we will discuss the following:
- Annual enrolment campaign 2026 (1-30 June)
- Our medical network: HUG
- Emergency medical treatments and repatriation
- Feedback about our technical platforms: eClaims portal, UNSMIS mobile app
The newsletter will be sent to insured members via email, will be published on the website and will appear as a pop-up window on the eClaims Portal.
We hope you find this newsletter helpful.
Kind regards,
The UNSMIS Team
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ANNUAL ENROLMENT CAMPAIGN
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As we approach our annual enrolment period, we extend a warm invitation to active staff members enrolled in our insurance plan to include eligible dependents under their health insurance coverage.
The campaign, taking place between 1-30 June 2026, is the yearly opportunity for insured members to add or remove eligible dependents, with changes taking effect on 1 July 2026.
Enrolment will be possible through your online HR portal (e.g. UMOJA or Workday), or directly through your HR focal point.
Please be aware that this campaign is not available to insured members in After-Service Health Insurance (ASHI), during extension periods under Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), or after separation.
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OUR MEDICAL NETWORK – HUG
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The Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (Geneva University Hospital, HUG) has been ranked 8th in Europe and 19th worldwide in the World’s Best Hospitals 2026 ranking by Newsweek and Statista. This position reflects a spectacular progression of 34 places compared to last year’s ranking, placing the institution in the Top 20 worldwide.
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The shared ambition of HUG staff is to deliver exceptional service quality across all areas, including medical, nursing, administrative and logistical services.
HUG seeks innovation, excellence and performance in all its areas, whether clinical, scientific or academic.
In close connection with the Faculty of Medicine, HUG conducts leading medical research activities covering both medical and nursing disciplines and actively contributes to the progress of medicine.
HUG also has a private division offering not only high-quality care but also exceptional comfort. This division provides first-class personalized service, combining high-quality hospitality, gastronomy, comfort and security. All rooms meet the highest standards.
UNSMIS has a tariff and direct payment agreement with HUG at extremely advantageous rates. At a time of financial difficulty across the entire UN Common system it is important, now more than ever, that we all do our part, wherever possible, to contain the costs of our health insurance plan. Unlike with private clinics, where doctor and anesthetist fees are charged separately to the patient, at HUG everything is directly invoiced to UNSMIS. As a patient you will have no administrative paperwork to deal with for inpatient surgeries.
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Always ahead of its time and keeping pace with the latest developments, HUG has launched the Centre de chirurgie ambulatoire de Genève (Geneva Outpatient Surgery Center, CCAG), bringing together all outpatient surgical services (i.e., when admission and discharge take place on the same day) in one location. Its purpose is to offer patients a medical establishment with excellent high-standard service and innovation.
When it opens in June 2026, it will be the largest outpatient surgery center in Switzerland (4,000 m2).
The CCAG will feature equipment tailored to the needs of outpatient surgery. This approach offers major advantages for many medical procedures, including faster recovery, reduced risks linked to hospitalization, and lower overall healthcare costs, among other things.
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Emergency Medical Treatment and Repatriation While Travelling
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If you are travelling and require emergency medical treatment, please follow the same steps as you would in any emergency.
If immediate medical assistance is needed, always call the local emergency number first to arrange ambulance transport if necessary.
Once you can, please call our helpline at:
- +1 800 340 1395 (toll-free number from the United States)
- or +33 1 55 62 53 46 (standard rates apply)
You will be connected to a globally recognized assistance company that will verify your UNSMIS coverage and assess the emergency nature of the situation.
Provide your name, insurance ID, insurer (UNSMIS), location, and details of the event.
If the treating hospital accepts a guarantee of payment or is part of UNSMIS’s network, UNSMIS will directly cover the costs of accommodation in a public ward or a semi-private room, where applicable. The members’ out-of-pocket share will be recovered afterward in accordance with the reimbursement rules.
Emergency hospitalizations are reimbursed at the same rates as standard hospital stays. No prior authorization is required in emergency situations.
For more information on applicable reimbursement rates, please refer to our Internal Rules.
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Repatriation
Please note that medical repatriation costs are not covered by UNSMIS.
Members travelling abroad are therefore strongly advised to obtain separate travel insurance that explicitly includes coverage for medical repatriation.
Recommendations Before Travelling
To facilitate access to care in an emergency, members are encouraged to:
- Carry their UNSMIS digital insurance card (available in the UNSMIS mobile app) or insurance details while travelling
- Save the UNSMIS emergency helpline numbers in their mobile phone
- Ensure that any travel insurance purchased includes repatriation coverage
Being aware of the applicable procedures and coverage limitations can help ensure timely assistance and a smoother coordination in emergency situations.
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FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS
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We are continuously working to improve our technical platforms to better support insured members. To help us in this effort, we invite you to share your feedback on our key tools: the eClaims portal and the UNSMIS mobile app.
Your feedback is valuable and will help guide future improvements. The survey will take only a few minutes to complete, and all responses will remain confidential.
You may access the survey by clicking the link below or by scanning the QR code.
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