I am a UK citizen and will be working as an Au Pair. I will not be exceeding a 12 month stay. will I need to take out a health care policy? Or would it simply be ok to have an EHIC card?

Here is a link-if anyone can make more sense out of it than me it would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...ingabroad.aspx

under UK law you can use your health card for up to 12 months , as did my wife , ( 58000chf maternity bill ) but under swiss law you will find that your local gemeinde house will want to see proof of insurance to get your permit.

but shop around for insurance as the price can differ , www.comparis.ch

You can take out a normal health insurance and, when you leave, you can cancel it so you won’t have to pay for a full year.

I suggest you contact our resident expert Jenny who has helped many forum members with their insurance.

Thank you both sp much for your help.

Would I be able to use BUPA worldwide health insurance instead of a basic swiss policy?

It says (below) if your employers keep up the payments (Continue to pay compulsory tax and NI in the UK) you are covered. Can you persuade your employer to do that? Or can you get your UK agency to make the payments? Otherwise the Swiss will make you take out the basic compulsory insurance. Do you have someone in the UK to sort this out for you?
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Working abroad for one year or less

If you are working abroad for a year or less, you will need an E101 form to show that you continue to pay compulsory tax and NI in the UK. To apply for an E101 your employer needs to contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
HMRC
Charity, Assets and Residence
Room BP1301
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Additionally, you will need to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which enables you to access healthcare while working abroad.
You can apply for a second period of up to 12 months in case your stay unexpectedly lasts longer then one year. If your application is successful, an E102 will be issued. Make sure your EHIC is renewed as well. For more information, contact HMRC.

Check this with Jenny, or someone who REALLY knows the law (not just what they did themselves) but it looks to me that under certain circumstances your UK insurance would be enough, but you would have to file an exemption request with the parish within three months of arriving.

or just present them with your insurance from the uk with bupa , all the parish wants to know is that you are covered incase of sickness or accident so that the parish dont have to pay.

it's not actually an 'or'. It's like we both said, but we just put it differently.
As I read it, the parish will need to have written, signed, stamped proof of Insurance. And there's probably a form to fill in for their records. Otherwise after three months the poster will likely get a bill for Insurance in Switzerland which the poster didn't ask, didn't want and didn't need. I'm sure this has happened to someone on here before.

But as Blonaybear said early on this Thread - contact Jenny and you'll be sure you've got it right. (And please come back on here and tell us to help future readers)