Does my European Health Insurance card cover me in Switzerland?

We will be visiting Switzerland over the summer, coming from Ireland. We aren’t sure if our European health insurance card from Ireland covers us in Switzerland, seeing that it isn’t a European Union country. Any experience with this?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is accepted in Switzerland. This card lets you access medical care If you become ill or are injured in an accident during your stay.

However, the card does not cover all possible costs or all available healthcare facilities. It is generally advisable to get additional travel medical insurance in addition to the coverage you receive from your state-sponsored health insurance program.

 

I would appreciate if you can clarify:

A person with Portuguese government health insurance and an EHIC card

-----travelling to Switzerland and after

-----geting residency in Switzerland

How valid is this insurance

Best regards

Hi woolwichthames,

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used to prove that you are insured in the event of medical emergencies while you travel in Switzerland. Note that the EHIC only proves coverage for medical emergencies and not for routine treatment. Coverage and out-of-pocket expenses will match those of compulsory Swiss health insurance for emergencies. It is also worth noting that you will generally have to front medical expenses and then claim reimbursement.

Once you become legally resident in Switzerland, you must apply for compulsory Swiss health insurance from a Swiss health insurance provider within 3 months. Cover is retroactive to the time that you become a legal resident. You can retroactively file claims for covered medical expenses which you incur between the time you become legally resident and the time you receive your insurance policy.

Although the cover provided by compulsory Swiss health insurance is dictated by law, there are huge differences in the premiums charged by different insurance companies. Once you know where in Switzerland you will live, make sure to compare health insurance premiums in that location. Choosing the most affordable compulsory health insurance can save you hundreds or even thousands of Swiss francs per year.

Best regards from Moneyguru

More on this topic:
Interactive Swiss compulsory health insurance comparison
What is covered by compulsory Swiss health insurance?