Are my health insurance (sanitas) being unreasonable

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well.

I am insured by sanitas in Switzerland I have been living in Switzerland for 3 years I’ve been very fortunate to never and get away with never ever paying for my health insurance it’s just so expensive even with a reduction.

I am currently in the process of paying back the 3 months free that the Swiss government give you in instalments 55 CHF a month for 3 years I have one year left.

I got a call from Sanitas customer relations department to ask why I never pay my bills and I just said I can’t afford it I use the NHS in the uk if I need to see a doctor I’d never use a Swiss doctor.

However they explained that Swiss health insurance in mandatory which I accepted but still explained 100 CHF a month is impossible for me to afford now they are saying that they will give me a CCJ if I do not start paying.

I’m not sure what they call it in Switzerland but it’s like a CCJ here in England.

How can I make them be more reasonable I can’t just magic money out of a hat I earn about 1600 CHF a month

What do I do?

I know what I will do: ignore this thread

No idea what your story is- and just don't know what to say.

You are aware of course that if you live in Switzerland, you have to have health and accident insurance, and that you are NOT allowed to use NHS in UK, as it is residence based. You hve to de-register from your GP.

They are being reasonable, very reasonable given the time period.

Now something you need to understand, your right for continued residency depends on your ability to establish economic viability within five years. Now it is very rare for this to be an issue for most people, but if you are demonstrating that you can't or won't pay such basics as health insurance you may find yourself in a difficult situation later on.

Are you trolling? Surely you can't be serious?

Please act like an adult and don’t respond to my threads in future thanks!

Well I work commission only Jim I don’t have the funds after rent to pay it my rent is just shy of 1500 I can afford but not while paying back the government too for the mandatory cover

There is nothing trolling about my thread I’m based in the U.K. more then I am Switzerland therefore I really see no reason paying it I wouldn’t mind paying it if I didn’t have to pay back the government’s mandatory cover to it all adds up

You don't even make sense. The government do not give you 3 months free health insurance. 55 x 36 is way more than 3 months cover anyway. And if it was free why would you have to pay it back?

Facepalm 🤦♂️

When you move to CH you get cover till you sort your health insurance out you get 3 months to organise it!!!

Nope. You have 3 months to organise it, but you still have to pay those 3 months, the insurance company backdates your bill. So face palm back at you.

(ie you pay those 3 months and every following month - another thing you seem to have issue with).

But those 3 months are not free- you have to pay full cost back to day 1! Sorry, posts crossed!

If you're moving abroad on a permanent basis, you'll no longer be entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules. This is because the NHS is a residence-based healthcare system. You'll have to notify your GP practice so you and your family can be removed from the NHS register. (from NHS website).

Anyway, out of here. Perhaps best close this.

Yes Jackie however my health insurance wants me to pay both the back dated amount and my current premiums which I can not afford I can not do both either one or the other

It is the Law here. It sounds as though you would be better to return to UK as your work is obviously not able to sustain you here. The advice given here is not 'bullying' just the honest reality.

Bonne chance.

Not paying your mandatory health insurance premiums to the point of possibly being issued a court order could have an impact on the renewal of your work permit.

Perhaps you could borrow the funds from family and pay off the debt ?

Navigating a new country is not so easy.

Health insurance is mandatory, so it’s best to find a way to pay it.

Hope it works out for you.

If you cannot afford to pay rent, health insurance, food.......for short, sustaining yourself independently, the conditions for a residence permit are not met.

So, be aware of the consequences of telling people you cannot afford health insurance. Their job may not be helping you with your problems, but taking you to a plane that will bring you to a place where you're someone else's problem.

I really don’t care. At the end of the day it will be your problem.

The OP has been given the correct advice on what to do and his question has been answered.