Hi there,
I tried to search the forums before starting a new thread, but I couldn't find anyone with a similar situation.

I'm from Spain and I'm starting a new job in Zurich in January. In spain I will keep my business, and i will manage it remotely.

I don't know how it works in Switzerland, but here in spain we have Public Health System linked with the Social Security that works pretty well. Given that my business will still be running, my Social Security is still valid and as a UE member it should cover me everywhere, including Switzerland.

¿Do I need to pay another health insurance? I case I don't, how should I arrange it with the swiss government?

Thanks!

Ignasi

If you live and have a job in CH, you have to have Health Insurance from day one. (I think you have 3 months to sort it out, but you will pay for the whole month retrospectively. We moved from the UK (also with State health Insurance/system) on the 25th of March but had to pay for the whole month!).

After you rent/buy some place in Switzerland to live you will have to register (in 8 days) in district office house (I don't know how they actually call it) and when filling these papers you might have to fill papers to get Swiss insurance and for that you can use your existing insurance. For me it was like one paper (request) + copy of my EU insurance card.

I'm confused. Odile, you state that I will be forced to get Health Insurance from day one, I get it.
And davidlt, you say that I can rent a place with my EU card, but does it mean that I still need the swiss one?

Can anyone shed some light on it?

I think you situation it quite complicated. Have you got to register yet? I imagine if you are freelancing then you can continue to use your Spanish insurance, thus you need to present it to the authorities. If however, you are going to be employed by a company in Zurich, you will need to get Swiss insurance. This is how I would interpret it. But the only people who can approve the exemption for your EU insurance are the authorities at the commune. So, you will have to si, o si, address the issue with them.

Yes, it's quite complex. And it gets even more complicated since the first month I will be freelancing, but after that month I'll sign a full time contract. I'll ask the company for some help, anyway.

Thank you all!

Ignasi

Look at the Health Insurance FAQs here - and it is all explained. If you stay in Switzerland for more than 3 months and are working and paying tax here - it is compulsory and your EU insurance card is not valid. Punkt Schluss.

Yes, it is a pain, and it does cost a fortune - but why should you be different.

Roger that. I don't think I should be different. It just hurts my soul knowing that i will be paying three times for health insurance.

Why would you be paying health insurance three times?

Live in one country then.... simple

Your EHIC card would cover you as a tourist, but as CH is not in the EU, if you become resident here you will have to take Swiss insurance as required by law. It will also be back dated to when you entered the country, so I would suggest you check out comparis for prices

We've paid for health insurance for the whole of our lives in the UK, and apart from having 2 children and a minor knee op - we've never ever used the NHS. Now we've retired in CH, and we have to pay - and there is nothing we can do about that. If you have private health Insurance in Spain, cancel it for the duration. If you'll still pay on your taxes for your company in Spain, which you'll continue to run as well as having a job here - then tough.

-given that I keep the business in spain, i still be paying for social security and health care for me.
-Axa Health Insurance in spain: I guess I will be canceling this one, but if I go back to spain at any point and I want it back, I will have to go through a grace period before I can have surgery, etc, using a private institution.
-Swiss one.

I really excited about this opportunity, and I'm sure I will be happy to live in such a wonderful country, but I'm just trying to be thorough and not spend in stuff that can be avoided.
I don't know about you guys, but recession in Spain is *&^*&%%ed up...

Thank you everyone!

Cheers,

I.

You pay your taxes and social charges in the country in which the income is earned... what's the problem?

New contract new qualification period, nothing new there

Eh?

You can't have your cake and eat it, 2 countries, 2 health systems and ways of charging... your choice to move won't exempt you.

I know man, I was just answering miniMia. I'm just trying to understand your system; I know I have to pay social security and taxes wherever I work. But unlike switzerland, in spain we don't separate social security and health insurance. If you are self-employed you pay for both or you owe the government. And if you are employed by a company, it's the company who has the obligation to pay for your social security (and thus social health care).

I'm just trying to figure it out.

And if by trying to understand how it works I've offended anyone... please forgive me!

I'm only 28 and all this thing overwhelms me.

Mods: you can close the thread if you want.

If you continue to earn a salary in Spain you will need to pay social services and cancel your private insurance. But this is not your only problem. You need to make sure you can be employed (and collect salary) from two companies. You have to check your employment contract. You may have to change "salary" to "dividends" or some such thing.

Your situation really requires you get professional assistance.

Don't take it personally, some people do the whole "tough love" act here but its more habit than anything and they don't really mean anything by it. I've been here 2 years and still don't fully understand the healthcare system yet. Good luck with getting everything sorted.

Hey thanks for the input. I'll give it a look, although I'm pretty sure I don't need to change the income system, since you are allowed to be self-employed and have a company contract at the same time (at least in Spain).
Anywho, I'll ask for professional help, as you suggested.

Thanks! I just don't want to seem like I came to this site to bitch about switzerland or your government, but this "tough-love" can make you feel not too welcome...

Anyway I'm a big boy, and nothing can make feel less excited about this new adventure...

Thank you all!

I.

By the way, I think you'll be very impressed with Swiss healthcare. It costs a fortune, yes, but you pay for what you get in this world and it's worth it!