phone 044 300 11 22

What are A, B, and C services?

A, B, and C services are used in home health care (Spitex) and outpatient care in Switzerland. These are legally recognized services—also known as “insurance-covered services”—for which health insurance covers a large portion of the costs. A services refer to counseling and assessment, B services to medical treatment and care, and C services to basic supportive care in daily life. SpitexCare determines which services in which category are needed through a needs assessment. A specialist will visit you at home, assess your needs, document the necessary services, and submit them to your health insurance provider for approval. Legally established rates apply to each of the three categories, and SpitexCare bills the health insurance provider directly. These services are regulated by the Swiss Nursing Care Services Ordinance (KLV):

A, B, and C Services in Detail

A-Level Courses

Assessment, Counseling, and Coordination

SpitexCare assesses care needs, develops care plans, advises clients and their families, and coordinates care with doctors and other specialized agencies.

B-Level Services

Examination and Treatment

B-services include medical and nursing care provided by SpitexCare. Treatment-related care generally requires a doctor’s order, which SpitexCare handles.

C-Level Services

Basic Care

C-level services help people with everyday physical activities when they can no longer perform them on their own.

Why are grades classified as A, B, and C?

The classification into A, B, and C services clearly shows the health insurance provider exactly which care services SpitexCare provides. If a service can be assigned to one of these categories, basic insurance generally covers the majority of the costs.

At the same time, the classification determines how high the costs are:

  • An assessment,

  • medical treatment

  • and assistance with personal hygiene are different services.

They are therefore classified differently and reimbursed differently by the health insurance provider.

An elderly woman in a wheelchair looks up at her caregiver and smiles; this illustrates one reason for returning to the caregiving profession

Which care services are not included in the A, B, and C categories?

Not everything that provides relief in everyday life is considered a long-term care service in the legal sense. Many support services fall under the category of housekeeping or optional services and are therefore generally not included in the A, B, or C services covered by insurance.

These include, for example:

  • Cleaning and tidying up

  • Washing and ironing laundry

  • Shopping and running errands

  • Cooking and preparing meals

  • Accompanying the person to appointments or on walks

  • Sitting and night watch

  • General support and assistance with daily life

This type of assistance, in particular, can be a great relief for those receiving care and their family members, and can make daily life at home significantly easier. It helps people live independently in their own homes for longer and takes some of the burden off family members.

Such services are generally not covered by basic insurance but are billed separately. However, depending on your supplemental insurance or an individual agreement, partial coverage of costs may be available. SpitexCare will work with you to determine which services are appropriate for your situation and which costs may be covered by your insurance.

What are long-term care services covered by health insurance?

Care services covered by health insurance are services financed by the health insurance provider’s basic coverage, the canton or municipality, and the patient. They are divided into A, B, and C services. Clients pay a copayment and a 10% deductible. The health insurance provider covers a large portion of the costs. Depending on the regulations, the municipality or canton covers the remaining costs. SpitexCare assesses the necessary care services at the outset through a needs assessment and coordinates cost coverage with the health insurance provider, as well as the canton and municipality.

What are long-term care services not covered by health insurance?

Care services not covered by health insurance include personal care and household assistance, such as cooking, cleaning, going for walks, or accompanying the patient to government offices. These services are generally not covered by basic health insurance and must, in principle, be paid for privately. However, it is possible that supplementary health insurance coverage may cover part of the costs. SpitexCare also checks this as part of the needs assessment.

What are recognized long-term care services?

Nurse helps a man take his temperature

Recognized nursing care services are those defined as A, B, or C services in the Nursing Care Services Ordinance (KLV). They are also referred to as nursing care services covered by health insurance.

These different terms can be confusing for people receiving care. The important thing to remember is that they essentially mean the same thing. They all refer to services that are partially covered by basic health insurance.

These services may only be provided by authorized service providers. Only then can the costs be covered proportionally by basic health insurance as well as by the canton or municipality.