Hi

I came to Switzerland with my husband who is on an expat contract. I am now employed on a local swiss contract. I have full comprehensive health insurance provided by my husband's employers under a UK-based insurance provider. My husband has recieved an exemption certificate from the compulsary swiss health insurance due to his expat status, but I am only covered by this exemption if I am not working.

Therefore, I am told I am required to take out a Swiss Health Insurance whcih I will never use as I am already covered by my existing insurance.

Has anybody else encountered this situation and is there any way around it? If I must take out an additional and pointless insurance, does anybody know of a provider aware of this issue who provides cheap (and probably poor) cover which ticks the boxes from the swiss authorities perspective? The chepaest I have found to date is CHF210 per month, which is a somewhat annoying consequence of having found myself a job!

Thanks in advance

Sorry, I don't know anything that would help you directly BUT I would say to check with the HR / Benefits department at your husband's employer. They *must* have had to deal with this situation before - I'd be shocked if this is the first time it's coming up for the family of one of their employees. They probably know the best way to get through this.

I am amazed they accepted your husbands insurance, it may be a mistake. They accepted a BUPA policy before I moved to ZH as they did not speak any English in the other office!