Hi

Wonder if anyone can give me some advice...

I am awaiting my B Permit to come through and as soon as it does then I will organise my health insurance (don't know much about how this works as my husband is sorting it out through work) I have an appointment next week to go and collect my B permit (at least I hope thats what the appointment is for) so as soon as i get it I can sort the health insurance out.

In the meantime I could really do with visiting a doctors and wondered if this is possible? if so how? I have been told I can go to a doctors and pay a 60CHF fee, is this correct, I don't fancy waiting another 3 - 4 weeks before going

Any advice would be appreciated
Nicky

Hi Nicky

You can visit a doctor here without health insurance any time. You have to pay the bill even if you had health insurance so there is little difference. Depending on what type of insurance you get, you will have some or all or none of your doctors visits reimbursed after you have paid the bill... It usually takes about 3 months before you will see the money from the health insurance company but you'll get used to it

Hi Lynn

Thanks for your reply.....

So I can just contact a local docs and make an appointment? Also when my husband finally got his permit through and got his health insurance in march, they back dated it to Decmeber when he arrived in the country.

So I am assuming they will back date mine to the day I officially told them i arrived in the country, if this is the case would I be able to claim any doctors appointments back that I make before I get my insurance?

Nicky

Yes, if you get onto the same scheme as him, and if that is Swiss, yours will be retroactively applied as well.

Apparently, all foreigners / B-permit holders have three months from the day they enter to arrange insurance. If you end up with a Swiss one, it will apply from the day you entered.

If you have your own foreign insurance, however, this is irrelevant (if you get permission from the kanton's health insurance office to use foreign insurance). But that is probably irrelevant for you since your husband is arranging the Swiss insurance already.

(It is not irrelevant for EU nationals who have insurance at home before they come to CH and maintain that insurance; they only need to show their European health insurance card with EU logo to the correct kanton's office within the said three months, then they do not require Swiss health insurance).

I would be careful though with the doctor, if they ask whether you are insured, you may have to explain as I get the feeling they do not like uninsured people as they may fear they won't get the money back; remember they often send you an invoice weeks later.

Just another point to think about. Some health insurances offer you a lower rate if you agree to make your house doctor one of the ones on their list (called HMO). These doctors have obviously satisfied certain criteria with respect to how much they charge etc.

In my case this saved me quite a bit of money and I was very happy with the doctor I chose from the list.

The only reason I mention this is because if you visit a certain doctor now, and then decide to choose the HMO option, they might not be on the list. If this is something you want to look into, it might be an idea to shop for the insurance company, then ask for their list, then choose the doctor. Of course, if you'd prefer to pay the extra and choose any doctor you like then this information is of no use to you

Hi

thanks for the replies

I think I am going to have to wait until I get my insurance, a bit worried that if I go and see a doc now about a condition it may affect my insurance? is this possible, i.e higher risk therefore higher insurance?

I am wanting an english speaking doctor for obvious reasons but i have been told most doctors speak english anyway?

Your point is a good one also re the list of docs from the insurers, my husband is away in the states at the moment but he has said to wait for him to get back as he has a list of doctors with his insurance and I am likely to get the same insurance as him.

Worryingly though I have just transtaled a letter which I thought was for me to go and pick up my permit next week but they want to see some more documentation from me which will mean my permit is now going to take longer - can I get swiss health insurance without a permit?

all very confusing......

Nicky

Well I'm sure the insurance company would be more than happy to take your money. I think they ask what kind of permit you have, but you don't have to prove it. I would use comparis.ch to shop for the best deal (there are big differences in the prices you pay!).

Once you've found the insurance you want, and depending on how "modern" the company is, you should be able to have it taken care of very quickly.

Note that the right insurance for you might not be the same as the one for your husband, shop around carefully! Health insurance in this country is affected by your age and gender (fair), and where you live (not fair). Smoking is not considered by insurance companies for the basic insurance, meaning that non-smokers effectively subsidise the insurance premiums of the smokers. Pre-existing conditions cannot affect the minimum insurance which is required by law, and all companies have to take you for this. Optional insurances are another matter entirely!

I would ask around for English speaking doctors. I would look for one because it is also about how much they understand you (when you speak fast as native speakers do etc.).

Where are you? Depending on your location I know a few lists with details.

Hi

I'm in Seebach near Oerlikon

Nicky

http://bern.usembassy.gov/medical_information2.html

= Embassy info on Bern, Basel, Zurich, Geneva doctors

http://www.xpatxchange.ch/index.php?...d=53&Itemid=88

on whole of CH

http://www.businessnomads.com/chapte...es.asp?s=d&l=6

on doctors in Zurich

all lists are recommended English speaking doctors

I couldnt see the thanks button, but really, thanks a million, I was beginning to despair of ever finding a doctor!!

Hey Nicky,

I am have been living here since the end of October. I am waiting for my Visa and have been told that it will not be processed until the New Year as the administrator dealing with it is out of the office ill and there is no one else to process it. I have travel insurance and a European Health Card. I have a pre existing health problem, IBS which I am not exactly sure if related to me new problem. I need to visit a hospital - can you give me any advice?

Many thanks, Shirls

You can also speak to InsuranceJenny.

Hope you are ok!!

hi folks,
can you ask the insurance to backdate your coverage a month or so?
even if you have seen a doctor without the coverage would your new insurer cover that visit?

many many thanks

This is a very old thread and there are answers to these questions in other places.