TG Bills — Therapy & Supplementary Services

What does TG stand for?

TG stands for Therapie- und Gerätetarif — the Swiss billing system for paramedical therapy services. It is the equivalent of Tarmed for physiotherapy, occupational therapy (Ergotherapie), speech therapy (Logopädie), dietetics, and medical massage. Where Tarmed codes apply to medical doctor services, TG codes apply to these allied health professions.

When you receive a bill from a physiotherapist, medical masseur, speech therapist, or occupational therapist, it will be structured around TG positions rather than Tarmed codes. The layout and billing flow is similar, but the codes and tariff framework are different.

How TG billing works

TG billing requires:

• A valid medical prescription from a doctor (GP, specialist, or chiropractor for some services)
• A KVG-accredited therapy provider
• The therapist submitting the bill using their TG codes, typically through the same electronic billing channels as doctors

The billing flow follows the same tiers garant or tiers payant model as medical billing. Most therapy providers use tiers garant — they send you the invoice and you submit it to your insurer.

The TG tariff structure

TG positions are typically organised by service type and duration:

• Initial assessment: A longer position code for the first session, which includes intake and evaluation
• Standard treatment session: Per 30-minute or per-session code depending on the discipline
• Specific techniques: Some disciplines have additional codes for specific techniques (e.g. manual lymph drainage, specific exercise therapy)

Unlike Tarmed, TG tariffs are negotiated separately between each therapy profession's association and the insurer associations. Physiotherapy tariffs are managed by Physioswiss; medical massage tariffs by SKMB (Swiss Medical Massage Association); occupational therapy by ErgotherapeutInnen Schweiz. This means the tariff structure varies by discipline.

Coverage and cost-sharing

TG-billed services count toward your annual franchise and Selbstbehalt in the same way as medical services. Once your deductible is met, KVG covers the full prescribed therapy cost. Before the deductible is met, you pay the full amount per session.

For ongoing therapy (multiple prescriptions throughout the year), reaching the franchise early in the year provides significant relief — subsequent prescriptions are covered from the first session.

What is not covered under TG

TG coverage applies only to:

• Prescribed, medically indicated treatment
• Services by KVG-accredited providers
• Disciplines specifically included in the KVG list (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietetics, medical massage)

The following are not covered by TG or KVG:

• Wellness massage without a prescription
• Sports massage from a non-accredited provider
• Yoga, Pilates, or personal training (even if medically beneficial)
• Osteopathy (not recognised as a KVG-covered therapy in Switzerland)
• Acupuncture by non-medical therapists (acupuncture by licensed medical doctors can be billed under Tarmed)

Some supplementary insurance products (VVG) include contributions toward non-covered complementary therapies — if these are important to you, check the policy details when purchasing supplementary coverage.