Questionable corona test center – PCR test is not paid because it is evaluated in Austria – News
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A corona-dependent listener had to pay for the PCR test herself because the test center had it evaluated abroad.
In mid-December, the “Espresso” listener suddenly felt sick: “I had a sore throat, headache and flu.” Since the self-test was positive, she looked for a test center to do a PCR test. “A colleague recommended the Corona test center on Pelikanplatz in Zurich to me,” she says.
Employees say the health insurance pays
When she told the two employees of the test center that they have corona symptoms and the self-test was positive, it was apparently of less interest. “You said I have to scan the QR code and then pay 99 francs.” They had a strange feeling, because corona tests are usually billed via the health insurance card. «I would like again to see whether the PCR test will really be covered by the health insurance. The employees have repeatedly confirmed this to me. I just have to send in the receipt. ”
PCR tests are analyzed in Austria
When she finally forwarded the termination to hers, the nasty surprise came: Since the test was evaluated in an Austrian laboratory, the health insurance company did not return the 99 francs. The “Espresso” listener is annoyed: “I was lied to brutally, if I had known that, I would not have had myself tested there.”
Too little work capacity in Switzerland
The doctor in charge of the private test center Corona Michael Albertini from St. Gallen rejects the allegations. Albertini is responsible for ten different corona test centers in Switzerland. It should be mentioned both on the website and in the test centers that the PCR tests are evaluated in Austria and are therefore not paid for by the health insurance company. In addition, the customers would have to sign a form and be verbally informed of this fact. However, the listener cannot remember having signed anything.
When asked why he did not have the PCR test evaluated in Switzerland, but in Austria, Albertini wrote that there was not enough laboratory capacity in Switzerland, which is why he had to switch to Austria.
The cantonal medical service supervises the test center
The corona test centers are supervised by the respective canton medical service. In the past, dubious, private test centers made headlines again and again. Some cantons have closed various private corona test centers due to quality defects.
The Zurich Health Directorate does not want to comment on specific cases when asked by «Espresso». Reports from the population about dubious test centers are being followed up.