Do any Irish people here have experience with VHI global as their health insurance provider in CH?

Im with VHI Global but have only just arrived a couple of months in Zurich so need to convince the Swiss authorities that they are the National Healthcare in Ireland, Ive heard not to say that they are a private or semi private org. Am going to find out this week if that will suffice or if I need further health insurance here....
you have the same issue?

You must have a basic insurance with a Swiss company in accordance with Swiss law. While your insurance is no doubt extensive there are many aspects where it probably does not conform to Swiss requirements. For example an insurer cannot cancel or charge you a higher premium or refuse to renew a basic policy irrespective of your state of health.

didn't work for me - had to get a Swiss one instead

My understanding is that the requirement to have a basic health insurance with a Swiss company is canton-dependent. In some cantons it is possible to have a foreign health insurance if it meets the Swiss criteria. I´m trying to decide whether to go with a foreign one or a Swiss one (as I have the option to do so). Am curious captain as to whether VHI will be accepted...was not really 100% convinced based on the coverage that it would be..but have no idea what to expect from a Swiss one and was told that if I could get a foreign one to go with that as it would likely be cheaper.
But would also like to hear from people who are using it...how is it dealing with them?

I know someone that spoke to the authorities in Zuerich and told them VHI was the national health insurance in Ireland not private or semi private and it worked for them. That was 4years ago and I have yet to call them to find out if this will still suffice. I know from someone else that BUPA would not suffice here.

Indeed in Zurich for example you'll get a letter explaining these rules and which companies have compliant policies.

After four years in Schaffhausen and our twins being born at the private hospital there, we received a phone call from the Kanton to say that the health insurance (BUPA) wasn't valid. I replied 'What do you mean its not valid, the twins have been born here, bills paid, BUPA was at this time cheaper than a Swiss Insurance and you got more cover.' So every month they called to say that our insurance wasn't valid and every month we replied," 'What do you mean its not valid, the twins have been born here, bills paid, BUPA was at this time cheaper than a Swiss Insurance and you get more cover.'

They responded you had to have Swiss insurance and we would say why. A global policy is valid in CH, isn't CH in the same global world as everyone else and where is your freedom of choice.

Eventually we went back to England, but it started being a joke! The Kanton is on again regarding the insurance.

Bottom line is that the Swiss don't like going back on a ruling or an opinion if one has been made. Do the Swiss argue and question things or are we just stubborn and will not take NO for an answer.

BUPA is not part of TelMed. If you don’t know what this is I suggest, with all due respect, that you find out before critising the system. Have a look at your BUPA policy and see the rights that the insurers has and then compare it with a Swiss insurer and you will find that it’s very different. I would certainly not be comfortable with a foreign insurance instead of a Swiss one and I would strongly advise you to consider your position. I sincerely hope that you are not struck with a severe illness but, if you were, you could find yourself in a very difficult position.

We had no problem with BUPA at all, worked really well here with a family, which has included hospital stays. I just think that the Swiss should be open to other medical companies who are not based in CH. Do we really live on an island? It is my point of view, thats all. I do now have Swiss insurance, which we took based on the view that we plan to be here for the foreseeable future, however for people on short term contracts of 1-2 years then I would certainly look at the options, which may include medical insurance outside of CH. It worked for us in the time we had it and felt confident that we had the support.

One issue that I have heard time and time again is that if you are a non Swiss speaker then it can be quite daunting, since most of the forms and information is written in the three main national languages and information in English is limited.

My 1st insurance company was Hermes/Groupe Mutuel, their forms for initial registration were in English.

Others may be too, the letter you get in Kanton Zurich to register lists them all, from which you can go to their websites to check.

Unfortunately here there is an "integrate already" mentality which is if you live here learn the local language.

For all us english speakers out there, what would an anlophone Canadian, American, British, Australian or Irish person think if after a few years immigrants hadnt learnt English (Welsh, Gaelic etc.)?

While the idea of having an insurer that is not based in CH sounds very simple it is, of course, far more complex than would at first appear.
Firstly consider that all the funds would be crossing a border to the insurer and then coming back again. There would be no local service and the insurer would have to have staff with the languages and qualifications to deal with LAMAL and operate the TarMed system. All the day-to-day contacts with the clients, cantons, communes, hospitals, doctors etc etc would all be more difficult and costly. There’s a lot more that could be said but suffice it to say that it’s just not a practical proposition.
Also consider that a Swiss krankenkasse or caisse maladie is a very different entity to a company like BUPA. A Swiss company does not make, and cannot change, the policy conditions and the premiums it charges have to be approved. It cannot refuse anyone because of their medical condition and cannot refuse to renew their policy or increase their premium because they are, or become, a bad risk. The companies are supervised by the Federal Office of Public Health (in English).
If BUPA had to operate under these conditions it would be very different indeed and I doubt that it would want to enter the Swiss system any time soon! (See this article about UK private health insurance). I’ve tried to keep this reasonably brief and just cover the basics but I hope it helps to clarify things.
I am a great fan of the Swiss system as, unfortunately, I have had first hand experience of just how good it is. A member of my family who had an excellent health record and lived a ideal healthy life style had a tumor on her spinal cord. A major operation, 3 months in rehab and now 50% disabled. The annual cost of drugs, a special high tech implant to control pain etc is about CHF 12,000. Total cost so far probably exceeds CHF 200,000 and growing. All the bills have been paid without question, the service has been superb and we have no worries that her premium may be loaded or cover refused.
Regarding having forms in English, being a contract it has to be in the language of the local court. I suppose information could be published in English but it would obviously add to the costs of health care and a lot of people would object to that. I take the view that I’ve chosen to live here and it’s up to me to adapt to that.

I have been using VHI global as my health insurance here for the last 2 years, So far it has been ok but I haven't relied on it for anything yet. I would imagine since its a global policy and Switzerland plays ball (at least a little) with the EU these days, that you might be able to argue that based on Switzerland being EEA and there is free movement etc that we should be allowed to use our national insurer. I would say go with Global until the force you to change... ...and even if they try to force you still argue your case. The coverage fulfills Swiss requirements, the one place where you may lose out though is on GP fees.

Sorry but your policy does not meet Swiss requirements and you are in an illegal situation. I’ve explained in my previous posting why you can’t use your national insurer. Should this come to light you could be required to pay for a proper policy back dated to your entry into the country with, perhaps, a 3 month allowance.

All the health providers operate under a system called TarMed which lists the price of all medical procedures. A bill is produced and sent electronically to the Swiss insurer who settles it and then charges you for any franchise (deductable) or other contribution. If you have a small medical situation you could pay the doctor and pharmacy cash and claim it back from your Irish policy but, if you were hospitalised you would be in trouble.

Your problem is now that if you apply to a Swiss insurer you will have to produce your permit and that it going to show your date of arrival.

Why is it any different to a tourist coming here having a skiing accident and being hospitalised?? In that case they would not have Swiss insurance, they would claim on their global insurance.

The difference is that they are visitors and not resident.

My understanding is that VHI global is more than a simple travel insurance and for that reason *could* be accepted in CH (although I`m sure this will depend on the canton). What did concern me a little is that there was a limit on the amount they would pay...Blonaybear, I´m sorry to hear of your friend´s illness, but it does raise an important point - I´m still getting to grips with the Swiss system, but am I right that a Swiss insurance would be obliged to cover all medical costs, and that this is the major difference between the Swiss and "foreign" insurances? (btw are you working in insurance, or just writing from experience?). So, I´m leaning towards taking a Swiss insurance (helped by the fact that it has been almost impossible to get in touch with VHI for info anyway)...

I was a registered insurance broker in the UK and my Swiss wife is a councillor for a medical insurance company.

There’s an excellent explanation on this forum of the health insurance so I won’t repeat it. You’ll find it here.

The health insurance regulations are a Federal matter.

Regarding VHI I did have a look at their website and while they quote what their policy covers I couldn’t find the actual policy conditions so I can’t say much about it, although it does seem to be designed for travel rather than residence in another country.

Try this, have a look at comparis.ch (it’s in English) and see what a Swiss premium is for yourself and then compare it with what you are paying VHI. Lets say, for example, that the best Swiss quote is, say, CHF 300 and you are paying VHI, say, CHF 150 then be very suspicious !

I’m surprised that you haven’t been able to contact VHI as they should have a 24/7 service for international cover. If you needed treatment and don’t have Swiss cover the hospital would try to contact VHI for a guarantee.

I sincerely hope that you don’t fall down a flight of stairs and get a severe injury but, if you do, the last thing you will want is to worry that you’ve got good insurance cover and if the bills are going to be paid.

Hope this helps.

VHI does have a 24 hour customer service hot line, and the number is on the back of your global membership card. I have had to get in touch with them a few times while over here and never had a problem getting in touch with them. If you want he number I used PM me and I will give it to you.

I have told them exactly what my story is when I took out the policy, and checked things again when I renewed my policy the last time. If I need hospitalisation I carry my card with me which has VHI contact details and my policy number on it. VHI Global is a health insurance policy in the region you purchase the policy for... e.g. Europe, America or Rest of world... (before anyone jumps on it they have assured me that Switzerland is covered as Europe!), and it ALSO works for travel insurance for up to 60 days in any of the other regions that you are not covered in.

You are incorrect in saying the VHI Global does not meet Swiss requirements. VHI Global is NOT travel insurance, it is health insurance 'for Irish residents who are living or working abroad for more than 6 months but intend to return to Ireland to resume residency at a future date'.

I spoke with the Zurich city authorities and they are satisfied with this cover. The main point which they emphasised was that I am resident here on an internal transfer from my company and the expectation is that I will return to Ireland. This may be different to others situations.