GP Referrals to Specialists

Arriving at the specialist

When you have a referral appointment booked, arrive with:

• Your insurance card (Krankenkassenkarte)
• The referral letter from your GP (if it was given to you — it may have been sent electronically to the specialist already)
• Any relevant previous test results, imaging CDs, or documents the specialist may need
• A list of your current medications (or the medications themselves)
• Photo ID

At reception, hand over the referral letter if you have it and confirm that the practice has received it electronically if it was sent in advance. Ask them to verify your insurance details. This administrative check at the start prevents complications with billing later.

What happens during a specialist consultation

The specialist will review the referral letter and your history before the consultation. The appointment itself focuses on the specific question your GP has asked — typically a differential diagnosis, a treatment recommendation, or a procedure. Specialists in Switzerland are not general practitioners of their specialty; they are consultants answering a specific clinical question.

After the consultation, the specialist typically writes a detailed report (Konsiliarbrief, rapport de consultation) that goes back to your GP. This report contains the specialist's findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Your GP then discusses this with you and adjusts your management plan accordingly. Ask the specialist directly what their conclusions are — you do not need to wait for the letter to reach your GP.

Follow-up with the specialist

Some specialist consultations are one-off — the specialist assesses, reports back, and that is the end of the specialist involvement. Others result in an ongoing specialist relationship (for chronic conditions, ongoing treatment, or surgical follow-up). The nature of the follow-up should be discussed at the first consultation.

For ongoing specialist care, you typically do not need a new referral every time you go back — the initial referral establishes the relationship, and follow-up appointments are booked directly with the specialist. However, if there is a long gap in care, or if you are switching to a different specialist, a new referral from your GP may be needed.

Self-referral: when you can skip the GP

Certain specialist categories can be accessed directly without a GP referral, regardless of your insurance model:

• Gynaecology and obstetrics
• Ophthalmology
• Paediatrics
• Chiropractors
• Psychiatry and psychotherapy (since 2022 under the new delegation model)
• Emergency departments

For all other specialties, if you are on a gated model (Hausarzt, HMO, Telmed, Network), you need the GP referral. If you book a non-exempt specialist directly without a referral, your insurer can deny the claim.

Choosing your specialist

In the Standard model, you can choose any KVG-contracted specialist. Your GP's referral may name a specific doctor or leave the choice open. In gated models, the specialist must be within your network. In any model, the specialist must hold a recognised specialist qualification (FMH title) to bill KVG rates.

For complex or serious conditions, it is worth asking your GP explicitly whether they recommend a specific specialist or centre. Swiss GPs are familiar with the specialist landscape in their region and can often direct you to the doctor with the highest relevant expertise.