Finances
Many families are covered without knowing it. But the call has to come first, not last.
A repatriation is a sum few people have budgeted for. What many do not know: in our experience roughly one family in three is at least partly covered — by a policy they had forgotten about.
Here is where to look, and above all in which order to act so that the cover is not lost.
Most policies require the insurer to be notified before costs are incurred. A family that organises the repatriation itself and then submits the invoice is regularly refused, even though the event was covered.
The right order: call the insurer or its emergency centre, get a claim number, and only then organise. We do this for you if you send us the policy.
The policy number, the name and date of birth of the deceased, the place and date of death, and the intended destination country. With those five items most emergency centres give an answer in principle the same day.
Usually covered: the transport itself, the prescribed transport coffin, and the formalities connected with the transport.
Usually not: the funeral in the destination country, the headstone, the ceremony, and relatives' travel costs. A few premium policies include a flight for one accompanying person.
Read the “repatriation” clause rather than the brochure summary. That is where the caps and exclusions sit.
Send us the policy, a photo will do. We review it, contact the insurer and, where possible, bill the insurer directly — so you advance nothing.
If the cover is partial, we tell you what share will remain yours before you decide anything.
Questions & answers
Look for the words “repatriation” or “Rückführung” in the terms and conditions. If you cannot find them, send us the policy: we know where to look.
That does not mean all is lost. Some insurers still reimburse where an urgent reason is shown. Report it at once rather than at the end.
Travel policies cover repatriation to the place of residence. For someone resident in Switzerland who dies in Switzerland and is to be repatriated to their country of origin, cover is rare — that is a different case.
Yes, several insurers and associations offer it, often aimed at diaspora communities. It is worth considering above all where burial in the home country is a certainty.