Health Insurance For Swiss Living Abroad

As a Swiss living abroad, you may find it difficult to get local health insurance in the country you live in. If you are leaving Switzerland to live in another country, you may wonder if you can keep your Swiss health insurance, or if you might be required to keep it.

Here, moneyland.ch answers the most important questions about health insurance for Swiss living abroad.

Can I get Swiss health insurance as a Swiss citizen living outside of Switzerland?

Certain pensioners and employees sent abroad by their employer are entitled to Swiss mandatory health insurance, as explained below. But other Swiss living abroad cannot get the basic health insurance that is compulsory for residents of Switzerland.

Can I get Swiss health insurance if I receive a Swiss old-age pension?

That depends on which country you live in.

• EFTA and EU countries and the United Kingdom:

If you receive a Swiss OASI pension, then you are normally required by law to keep your Swiss health insurance if you move to an EFTA or EU country, or the United Kingdom. Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain are exceptions to this rule. If you move to one of those countries, you can choose between Swiss mandatory health insurance and local health insurance in the country you live in.

If you also receive a pension from the country you live in, then you have to get insured in that country. If you receive both a Swiss pension and a pension from an EFTA or EU country other than the one you live in, then you have to get health insurance in the country where you paid pension contributions for the longest period of time.

• All other countries:

You are neither required nor entitled to keep your mandatory Swiss health insurance.

Can I keep my Swiss health insurance if my employer sends me to another country?

If you work for a Swiss employer, and your company sends you to a different country for work, you can keep your Swiss mandatory health insurance for all or part of your stay abroad. The rules vary depending on which country you move to.

Can I keep my Swiss mandatory health insurance after I leave Switzerland?

After you take up legal residence in another country, you are no longer entitled to mandatory Swiss health insurance unless you meet the criteria for pensioners or employees sent abroad by Swiss employers. You must inform the insurance company about your move so that they can terminate your insurance and stop charging insurance premiums.

Can I get voluntary health insurance from a Swiss insurance provider?

If the country you live in does not have adequate health insurance, then you could consider getting international health insurance. This insurance for expatriates is offered by several Swiss health insurance providers, and a number of non-Swiss insurance companies. You can find more information and a detailed overview in the guide to Swiss international health insurance.

Unlike mandatory Swiss health insurance, you do not have a legal right to international health insurance. If your health is poor, your application may be rejected, or your pre-existing conditions may be excluded from cover. If you want international health insurance as a Swiss citizen living abroad, it is important to apply while you are still relatively young and in good health.

Can I keep my Swiss supplemental health insurance after I leave Switzerland?

The terms and conditions of Swiss supplementary outpatient and hospital insurance policies generally require you to reside in Switzerland in order to remain insured. When you leave Switzerland, you must inform your supplemental health insurance provider.

Some Swiss health insurance companies let you apply to have your supplemental health insurance policies put on hold for a certain amount of time (typically up to one year) while you are living abroad. The insurance company can accept or reject your application. While your insurance is on hold, you pay special, lower premiums. 

This option can be advantageous if you expect to return to Switzerland in the not-too-distant future, and you would not be able to get new supplemental health insurance due to health conditions or age.

Can I get health insurance if I return to Switzerland?

Yes. As a Swiss citizen living abroad, you have the right to return to Switzerland and take up residence at any time. Once you have taken up residence in Switzerland, you are required to get Swiss mandatory health insurance within three months. The insurance applies retroactively from the time you became a resident.

Health insurance providers are required to give you mandatory Swiss health insurance regardless of your health or age, and cannot exclude any pre-existing conditions from coverage. So from the time you move back to Switzerland, you can take advantage of all the coverages provided by Swiss mandatory health insurance.

More on this topic:
Leaving Switzerland: A financial guide
Swiss bank fees for non-residents explained