Hi - I'm not sure if my question has been covered elsewhere. In addition to the requisite basic health insurance coverage, I am planning to obtain supplementary insurance as well. However, I have just been advised by my private insurance provider here in Germany that the Swiss supplementary insurance does not cover treatment/medication/ambulatory/emergency incidences incurred abroad.

Is this necessarily true? I will be working partly and/or travel frequently abroad and want to have a comprehensive international coverage as I had in Germany.

Yes, I did check Comparis.ch already but I don't think there exists an answer to my question. Either that or I mst have missed it completely.

Thanks!

what insurance do you have? That might help get you an answer....

My supplementary insurance does cover me for abroad. I'm with KPT/CPT

Over the past 4 years since I was relocated to Frankfurt, I have been with DKV. Expensive (something like EUR 625 per month) but it's an even split between me and the bank I work for. I know I won't get the same deal there as there is no agreement between the Swiss bank and the private insurance provider.

That said, so far I haven't had any problems with claims, reimbursement had been relatively fast (cannot complain at all), even in those instances when treatment and/or purchase of medication were incurred abroad.

I just asked for a quote from them and I was given EUR 585, which is something in the neighborhood of Sfr 950. Really steep, right? And this doesn't include the basic insurance coverage required...

I think you'd be best off contacting a Swiss insurer. I know I have cover PLUS I know I have P1 cover (so full private) through the company I work for (your insurance you pay is for health not accident - this part is covered by the employer).

WOW!!! Really??? Thanks! I'll definitely look it up. I know it varies from case to case, but is very expensive? My current provider in Germany gave me a quote of nearly Sfr 1,000.

Thanks, Lob Rockster. Yes, I'm aware that my company will cover accident insurance. But for example, 2 weeks ago while home in New York, I had to have 2 emergency root canals. Today I dropped off my claims at my insurance company, and no problem.

I just want to have continuity with this sort of flexibility...

you will want to check what dentistry work is covered - much isn't no matter which country you're in.

i figured as much, that's why i decided to ask. i mean, if net-net the difference between my german provider now vs. a swiss provider is "marginal", then i would keep the one i have now. all this of course based on any ballpark figure i get from other forum participants.

thanks! hope to get greater clarity when i meet with some swiss providers next week...

My Swiss supplemental insurance is through Sanitas, and it covers me worldwide. 1st class hospital treatment up to 180 days (assuming the total duration of my stay abroad is < 1 year), full coverage of medical expenses, etc.

... and by full coverage you mean dental coverage as well?

Thanks, tomcat! I'll add this to my list. So far I have Zurich lined up next week and I'll be asking for appointment with others during the course of this week.

you might find that once you're domiciled here, you can't keep the German insurance.

I am used to the German system (where dental is included) and the U.S. system (where dental is separate) ... and dental insurance here is completely separate from medical insurance even though it may be issued by the same insurance carrier.

Good question, I believe my dental insurance is portable to other countries, but I will have to double check.

Sanitas has good info on their Web site, albeit not in English.

http://www.sanitas.com/pub/ServiceBr...cationName=pub

OK, I just checked the terms. Yes, dental covers you inside and outside Swissieland.

Hello brownie,

There is a lady by the screen name of Jenny that helps people to get better deals for their insurances. Just follow this link for her details:

Have I forgotten you?! :(

Hope this helps,

Lucy

Lucy, hi - thanks. I did send her a mail (I've read of her name elsewhere in the forum whilst searching for insurance), but so far no luck in getting a response. I'm not really impatient... it's just that next week is the only week I have free before I start with my new job on July 9. I wanted to get important things like this started immediately.