The Society reimburses you only for medicine regarded as medically indispensable by the health authorities of the country where they have been purchased. So as not to penalize Society members, products reimbursable in Switzerland but purchased in France and vice versa are also reimbursed. Your consulting physician or pharmacist will know which medical products are reimbursable. Your doctor can prescribe a product that will be reimbursed in preference to one that will not be. The reference for reimbursement is the Compendium/Galénica in Switzerland and the Vidal in France.

Please note tha in general Para-Pharmaceutical products are NOT reimbursed. Food supplements are not reimbursable (even prescribed by a doctor).

Society members are encouraged to request doctors to prescribe generic drugs which are less expensive (30 to 50 per cent less) than branded drugs. The Society will also reimburse generic drugs suggested by the pharmacist in replacement of the original drug provided the pharmacist indicates it on the prescription.

Generic and branded drugs prescribed by a Swiss doctor and purchased in France, where they are significantly cheaper, are reimbursed by the Society. This practice is encouraged as it keeps costs down for UNSMIS as well as a smaller out of pocket expense for the insured member.