So the only ones who are required to have health insurance are residents? Is it the same for all EU ?

Every country has their own regulations in the EU. Keep in mind that while Switzerland has agreements with the EU on some things, including the right to free movement of its citizens to the EU and vice versa, Switzerland itself is not in the EU.

Each country of the EU operates it's own health policies, so the rules vary from country to country so it is difficult to generalize, but it is normal to find that every resident is covered for basic health care regardless of their economic circumstances.

What is common between all the EU countries plus Switzerland is that they recognize the health insurance coverage of citizens when travelling to other parts of the EU, that means for example an Italian going on holiday to Ireland does not need to take out travel insurance to cover medical expenses in case he gets sick while there. Should he become sick while there he will be treated by the Irish medical system as if he was a fully paid up member of their system.

Do you have any specific questions?

Jim

Thank you for explaining this. I guess I am wondering if my daughter's US insurance should just be cancelled at this point. Since basic medical care is available in the EU, she will need those funds to pay for supplemental coverage or more advanced care, right?

Your daughter does not live in the EU - she lives in Switzerland which is not part of the EU.

Medical insurance is compulsory once she is a resident in Switzerland, and she must contract one here to get both basic and supplemental coverage.

For Swiss insurance you can contact Forum member Jenny.

OK, if I understand you correctly, your daughter is moving to Switzerland and will take out basic health insurance as is required by law here. Basic insurance here covers more or less all the standard stuff, so unless she wants something special this may be enough for her. As a result of being resident in Switzerland and having taken out the required insurance, she would indeed be covered for business trips and holidays within the EU as well.

However, this will not cover her for trips outside the EU or back to the USA, so you might need to hold on to the US insurance for that reason. Another thing to check out how easy it will be for her to get cover again when she decides to return home and what the costs will be...

Good luck with that,

Jim

The basic insurance provides for emergency treatment while abroad, however, it is advisable to arrange extra travel insurance for certain countries. See this.

Thank you for the clarifications - I really did not understand the EU - she has an EU passport (we are dual citizens of Italy and US) and is working in Switzerland now. We will hang on to the US coverage.

Two things

1. Forget about the EU if your daughter is living in Switzerland.If she's a Swiss resident, she must have Swiss health insurance. This health insurance will cover her on a holiday in the EU.
2. Don't keep her American insurance (unless she's got a pre-existing condition which would make it very tough for her to get insurance when she moves back). Swiss health insurance is compulsory for those who live in the country - regardless of their citizenship or any other health insurance they might have.

Do a search on the forum for health insurance, you'll find a lot of info. It is expensive but covers an incredible amount of stuff. Supplementary Swiss health insurance will only buy things like private/semiprivate hospital rooms and such.

Another thing to keep in mind. EU members are covered by our own Health System is we stay in Switzerland less than one year. If we stay longer we have to get a Swiss health insurance.

I am a Canadian and French citizen. I will be living and working in Switzerland for 6 months. Can anyone else support what Miquel has written about me not requiring the compulsory CH insurance because my length of stay will be less than a year? Thanks!

No, it's not true. In a normal situation, if you become a resident here you will be required to take out health insurance within the first three months, and if you don't do it and declare it to your gemeinde they will do it for you. Loads of info on here about this, but miquel's is incorrect (or at least, not current). If you do have a special situation e.g. a worldwide health insurance that you can prove will cover you in Switzerland during the whole of your stay, you may be able to avoid this requirement, but without knowing you situation no one can advise you and often the outcome varies by kanton/gemeinde/time.

You can indeed use cover from health insurers from overseas if it is deemed to cover you in CH for a residential stay (vs. e.g. holiday). However, you need to have all the documentation in place and be able to provide it to your local Gemeinde (where you are registered) if they ask for it.