Ok so I've been trying to get my head around the whole health insurance thing in Switzerland. I came from Ireland to Basel Stadt 3 months ago and have a B permit for 12 months (until end August 2012). I initially thought that I had 3 months to get insurance, but that doesn't seem to be quite right as some companies can back date the cost of a policy.

When I realised the cost of Swiss policies and the fact they could be back dated I started looking at other options. I was pointed to VHI who are an Irish insurance company with a Global policy they say is accepted in most countries in the world. A quick search of this forum throws up a few older threads where some people are using VHI Global, so a couple of things I'd like to know

- has any Irish person here recently had VHI accepted by the Swiss authorities?
- what are the contact details for the relevant authorities in Basel Stadt? (of all the threads I've read none of them have details of where the relevant authorities are or how to contact them)

Here's the VHI policy:

https://vhi.ie/info/global/index.jsp

I think you might find that being a resident and being a visitor carries a difference when it comes to health insurance.

Why don't you try looking at comparis.ch and go through the different insurance policies and pick a cheap one.

As a resident you have to have insurance and I'm not sure a "Global" insurance is acceptable.

Sorry I can't find the link but I recall from my move that the Swiss regulations required a Swiss policy so I didn't even try to get my VHI accepted.

Hi folks,

I am Irish, and have that very VHI global policy, and had it accepted here in Lausanne without issue. you simply have to justify that you already have a policy, that you are a working professional here on short term contract (my contract is 6 months), and they will accept the foreign policy for up to a year. After that I think you have to go swiss.

have fun

Hi Sandgrounder I already looked at comparis and found a basic policy that would cover me for my time here, but it's more than double the monthly cost of the Irish policy and the company will probably back date it which would be almost 900 CHF extra.

So if the Irish policy is acceptable then it obviously makes more sense to get it versus a Swiss one.

I think swiss-guest holds the key to the acceptance argument in his posting.
"you have to justify that you have an exsiting policy". if you currently have VHI then you can argue that you wish to continue this for a year, if not I don't think they will let you shop around for a cheaper international one in order to save money (that's how they look at it)

health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland and as it is quite high in international terms they are very strict and of course quick to cut off any loop holes!!

Good luck

John

Hey there,
I was wondering this also, although I'm with Quinn which don't have a global policy as far as I know and so presumably switching to VHI global (even if accepted as coverage in Switzerland) might not be accepted in my case as it would not be considered switching over from an "existing policy".

My case is slightly different and a bit complex as my husband has moved over to Switzerland, has registered and has signed up for full insurance coverage, whereas I have not moved over yet and will be back and forth for the foreseeable future due to health reasons and want to stay resident in Ireland for reasons related to same.

I'm not sure if I'm obliged to register as a resident over there because of my husband's residency status or if I can continue as is without registering at all until I move over full-time. It's a bit of a minefield and I guess i should get professional advice as to all the implications but money is quite tight at the moment so will have to hold off until the New Year.

I imagine so long as I am spending more time in Ireland than Switzerland it might be fine, however there could be repercussions for my husband's tax status if I'm not resident also. Oh lordy, brain melted but sure it will all work out in the end , me hopes!

In your case however I imagine it is very much dependent on your length of stay and residency status in the country.

Hope you can find a loop hole and not have to pay all the arrears.

Best of luck

Hi Nastrana,
Just to put your mind at rest on one point, your residence in Ireland has no impact on your husband's ( non) residency status there. It probably would affect any claim he may have to have changed domicile but that is a longer term issue.

Thanks Clonskeagh.

That's good to know but tbh I was more concerned over the impact my non-residency in Switzerland would have on his tax situation there rather than the other way around. I am not working at the moment so his residency has no legal ramifications for me in Ireland.

Cheers

Hi there,

I am irish and have the vhi global policy, I had it accepted by the authorities in Basel Stadt as an alternative to the swiss one. I am exempt from the swiss health insurance for the duration of my B permit which is 5 years. After when I get my C permit I must get swiss health Insurance.

I'd imagine that his company here in Switzerland should be able to inform him of his tax status if not a simple call to the tax office will suffice. I know that you can claim child benefit if you have children even if they are not living in Switzerland so I'd imagine it is the same for being married.

here is the contact details for the Zurich tax office

Stadt Zürich
Finanzdepartement

Departementssekretariat
Werdstrasse 75
Postfach
8036 Zürich
Telefon 044 412 11 11

Hi again travnett, can I ask did you move over here with an Irish company or are you working for a Swiss company? This seems to have a bearing on whether or not the authorities will accept the VHI policy.


Cheers

Hi,
I am just looking for some info on this if anyone can help.

I live in Ireland but have moved here for work (week on/week off shifts - going home during week off) and don't now where to start with health insurance.
I don't have it at home yet, but would rather get it there as I don't think I'll be hanging around here too long, but obviously need some cover while I am here.
Is it possible to get the VHI cover and try and get it accepted here (Zurich) or pay over the odds for a swiss policy that will probably not be much good to me at home?
I don't have my permit yet (B, I think) but my job here is a permanent one as opposed to a short term contract.

Any help/advice gratefully received.

I was here on a student visa during which the authorities in Fribourg allowed me to use the VHI global policy but as soon as I got my full B permit for 5 years I was forced to take on a swiss insurer. They wouldn't even let me see out the year with VHI. They gave me a definitive deadline which gave me just over two weeks to get it sorted and then another month to send them the proof.

I guess it depends on the canton what the rules are.