Private Medical Insurance

[GreyWolf]

In Switzerland you have 90 days after registering as a resident to buy health insurance. If you don't, the Kanton buys it for you and sends you the bill. They don't bother to shop around for the best deal so it's in your interests to buy it yourself.

Some Kantons will allow residents to have foreign health insurance cover instead of using a local provider but it has to meet Swiss standards so that rules out most British policies.

Accident insurance is separate and will be provided by your employer. If you don't have an employer you can add it to your health insurance or, if you're just temporarily between jobs, buy it yourself from SUVA for not very much.

Both accident and health insurance are compulsory.

I believe the usual procedure for unregistered (and undocumented for that matter) residents is for the hospital to buy insurance for anyone who turns up in a mangled state. That way they're only on the hook for the premium not the total cost of treatment if it turns out the patient can't pay. It's then up to the patient and the insurance company to sort it out.

[BR14]

In my experience, they merely check whether you are registered with a local doctor. I doubt they have any way of verifying your tax status, and even if they did I doubt they have either the time or the inclination to do that. And most hospitals don't seem to have grasped the concept of billing "foreigners", let alone have a process for actually doing it.

In NL CH and DE they do IME. you have to show an insurance card before any treatment is started.
Otherwise you're liable for costs and will be billed.

[RasputinDude]

Recommend TK if you're in Germany, although public it's private by UK standards. Now you can pay more and go private, but if you're young fit and healthy, I'd spend the money on beer instead.

Totally this. My family is insured with TK and without doubt it is the best of the German public insurers.

Having lived out of the UK for a few years, I now have strong opinions on "the envy of the world".

[fishandchips]

Thank you everyone I will check locally in the country where I plan to be resident as to what is on offer in terms of medical insurance.

[Mordac]

Yes it's advisable. While an EHIC offers the same coverage as locals for emergency care and few other conditions. If locals are liable to pay, then you are. Treatment that is free in the UK may not be free in abroadland. Repatriation expenses are not covered.

If you become resident for tax purposes in another country, you are not entitled to care under EHIC nor under the NHS. You must take up the local health care system. You are not entitled to nip back to the UK for treatment.

If I need care in the UK on my visits, I tell them I'm not entitled to NHS care, and they must bill me or my insurance company.

In my experience, they merely check whether you are registered with a local doctor. I doubt they have any way of verifying your tax status, and even if they did I doubt they have either the time or the inclination to do that. And most hospitals don't seem to have grasped the concept of billing "foreigners", let alone have a process for actually doing it.

[northernladuk]

So she was a roofer?

2nd time out of 2 stories about stupid people he's made a glaring error in his post. Go figure.

[psychocandy]

So she was a roofer?

No - fell off a horse

[NickFitz]

Remember a news story a few years ago....

Young lady had gone to work in Egypt doing house riding lessons etc. Fell off and broke her back. Didn't have any insurance at all. Couldnt get decent treatment, couldn't come home etc.

The "story" was she'd had insurance and had "forgotten" to renew it.....
Cue just giving page/appeals etc. Family telling everyone it would cost x amount to bring her home etc.

In the end, sure it turned out she was working illegally in the country had rocked up with standard tourist insurance to begin with and then thought sod it.

Must admit I thought it a but funny. No money from me thats for sure. Stupid people deserve all they get.

Never worked abroad but assume you do need "proper" health insurance even if you are working legally.

So she was a roofer?

[BlasterBates]

You need to take out medical insurance in the country you decide to live in, it is compulsory. If you have a permanent job it will be automatically arranged by your employer.

[scooterscot]

Recommend TK if you're in Germany, although public it's private by UK standards. Now you can pay more and go private, but if you're young fit and healthy, I'd spend the money on beer instead.

[meridian]

Apologizes in advance if this is the wrong section of the forum. As I cannot see a relevant section.

Is it advisable to take out medical insurance if living outside the UK ?. I see myself in living in countries such as Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium or Croatia. If so can you please share any gotchas I need to be prepared for ?

Many thanks

You’ll need to figure out where you are going to live, how long for, and what you will be doing there. Different countries have different rules on mandatory health insurance for both locals and immigrants depending on whether you are a tourist, worker, retiree, etc.

[psychocandy]

Remember a news story a few years ago....

Young lady had gone to work in Egypt doing house riding lessons etc. Fell off and broke her back. Didn't have any insurance at all. Couldnt get decent treatment, couldn't come home etc.

The "story" was she'd had insurance and had "forgotten" to renew it.....
Cue just giving page/appeals etc. Family telling everyone it would cost x amount to bring her home etc.

In the end, sure it turned out she was working illegally in the country had rocked up with standard tourist insurance to begin with and then thought sod it.

Must admit I thought it a but funny. No money from me thats for sure. Stupid people deserve all they get.

Never worked abroad but assume you do need "proper" health insurance even if you are working legally.

[NotAllThere]

Yes it's advisable. While an EHIC offers the same coverage as locals for emergency care and few other conditions. If locals are liable to pay, then you are. Treatment that is free in the UK may not be free in abroadland. Repatriation expenses are not covered.

If you become resident for tax purposes in another country, you are not entitled to care under EHIC nor under the NHS. You must take up the local health care system. You are not entitled to nip back to the UK for treatment.

If I need care in the UK on my visits, I tell them I'm not entitled to NHS care, and they must bill me or my insurance company.

[fishandchips]

Apologizes in advance if this is the wrong section of the forum. As I cannot see a relevant section.

Is it advisable to take out medical insurance if living outside the UK ?. I see myself in living in countries such as Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium or Croatia. If so can you please share any gotchas I need to be prepared for ?

Many thanks