People seem to think that Rega is only there for mountaineers and extreme athletes. Is that true?

This is a misunderstanding. Our crews don’t only assist people involved in accidents while engaging in leisure activities or in the mountains. By far the most frequent reason for a helicopter or ambulance jet mission is an acute illness such as cardio-vascular problems or strokes. This can happen to anyone – in daily life or while on summer holiday.

Do you have an example of how quickly a situation starts off innocently and escalates?

Yes, we had a case at the end of May: an elderly lady had missed her bus and continued on foot. She took a wrong turn, got lost in the forest and ended up stuck in steep terrain. She wasn’t injured, but she couldn’t go on or back and was very afraid of falling.

Our crew had to evacuate her using the rescue hoist. So a missed bus ticket that costs just a few francs turned into a rescue mission that costs thousands.

But aren’t you insured anyway in cases like these?

No, if the person is not injured then neither the accident insurance  nor the health insurance is obliged to pay, as a rule. For an evacuation alone, the person concerned usually has to pay themselves, unless they have a patronage.

What about if someone is injured or has fallen ill? Is transport in a rescue helicopter not “automatically” insured?

No. This depends on the personal situation and on whether it's an accident or an illness.

• For accidents, if the person is employed, then their accident insurance usually pays the rescue costs in full.
• With illnesses or if the person is not employed (e.g. children, pensioners), then the health insurer pays only half of a legally recognised rescue, up to a maximum of 5,000 francs per calendar year. On average, a helicopter mission costs 4,500 francs – and can quickly increase to double that amount for a difficult search and rescue mission.
• In the case of evacuations, a person who has to be evacuated but who is not injured (like the lady in the forest) often has to pay all the costs. However, as a thank-you for their support, Rega can also waive the costs for its patrons – and it does so too.

A Rega patronage is not insurance but a solidarity contribution that can close financial gaps in an emergency.

How does Rega help with emergencies abroad?

Our medical consultants work together with the treating physicians abroad. In the case of acute illness or accidents abroad, they clarify the medical options and can often provide help over the phone by translating and evaluating diagnoses. If repatriation is indicated, we organise it.

We support the coordination with the insurers and clarify who will cover the costs. In addition, we support the people affected by providing advice.

Recently a Swiss lady in the south of France was taken ill with a serious intestinal infection. After she was stabilised at a local hospital, our Jet Operations Center arranged for her to return on a scheduled flight to Switzerland, where she underwent further tests.

So patrons are not always flown home in a Rega ambulance jet?

No. In 2025 alone, we organised the return of 310 persons on scheduled flights – they were often accompanied by one of Rega's intensive care specialists or flight physicians. We use this economic and environmentally friendly alternative if the patient's situation is sufficiently stable and if enough seats are available on the aircraft. The ambulance jets are used primarily to repatriate patients requiring intensive care. We help wherever it makes medical sense – but there is no legal entitlement to repatriation.

Does the system also apply to expats who may be living in Switzerland temporarily?

Absolutely. Anyone who lives, travels and works here is invited to become part of our solidarity-based system. Rega is a charitable foundation and is not funded by the government. It is only thanks to our patrons that we can maintain our 14 bases as well as the three ambulance jets round the clock and help around 35 patients per day on average.