State-funded healthcare for expats – Switzerland

Nothing in Switzerland is cheap.

Healthcare is no exception.

In this article, we’ll discuss Healthcare for Expats in Switzerland.

The Swiss healthcare system is of a very high standard, if not the among the highest, according to the Euro Health Consumer Index Survey (2015).

Health is provided for all, i.e. it is universal, but is insurance based.

Compulsory Healthcare Insurance

Healthcare for Expats in Switzerland may be expensive however Expats must, within three months of arriving in Switzerland, take out medical insurance.

Because it is compulsory, insurance companies cannot refuse you cover of at least basic healthcare.

Insurance costs vary from company to company and commune to commune and canton to canton.

The average monthly premium for basic healthcare is around £250 per month.

On top of this, there will be the excess payments to pay when you make a claim, as well as any extras not covered by your policy. So it is not cheap.

However, it is the same for all age groups and genders within the same company, regardless of the premium holders state of health.

There is ‘complimentary’ health insurance cover to meet medical needs not covered by the basic health insurance policies – this can include upgrades in hospitals, complimentary medicines, dental care, medical categories not covered by primary health care insurance and so on.

The cost of this protection is, however, risk-based.

Medical Facilities

You can, though, expect a high level of service when it comes to healthcare for expats in Switzerland.

You are free to choose your doctor and waiting times are short.

Although of the four main languages spoken in Switzerland – Germany, French, Italian and Romansh – English is not one, most doctors in the cities speak English.

Public hospital facilities are excellent and of a very high standard.

Most treatments are covered by the basic health insurance, but there may be extra costs to pay for specialist treatment and medicines.

Switzerland has some of the highest ratios of medical practitioners to the general population.

Working in Switzerland but Living Outside

The cost of living in Switzerland is considered generally to be very high.

Therefore, You may choose while working in Switzerland to live outside its borders.

In which case, you are allowed to be covered for healthcare by the country in which you live.

Emergency and/or Accident Cover

In the event of an accident at work or elsewhere, you will be covered by your employer’s insurance.

Your company’s insurance will also entitle you to the normal social welfare benefits, such as unemployment benefit, the old age pension, maternity leave and so on.

This insurance – social welfare – cover is employee/employer based.

Employees pay around 8.5% of their salary towards this cover.

EHIC – European Health Insurance Card.

For visiting friends and family from the EU and other qualifying countries, there is the cover provided by the EHIC.

However, this card only entitles you to state-provided medical treatment.

It does not cover repatriation, continuing medical care or non-urgent medical care.

It is important, therefore, that visitors to Switzerland have the appropriate travel insurance in place.

Risk of Tick-Bites

Between April and October, there is an increased risk of tick bites.

There is a high annual incidence of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), so again, it is important to have the appropriate healthcare insurance in place.

This applies to both expats and their visiting friends and families.
The emergency services numbers to ring are 112 or 144.