I'm moving from UK to Basel with two under 10s. I'm in good health and want to arrange health care..how much will it be per month? If I am not working are there any discounts?
Any advice welcome
Hi ,
Try: http://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/default.aspx in English.
Enter the Basel postcode etc. to get the estimates.
Price should not be the only consideration, though.
I've chosen SWICA (well, an insurance-adviser chose it for me, back then...) but I've since found that a lot of Swiss co-workers also have SWICA, even if it's not the cheapest.
When I get prescribed meds at the pharmacy, everything is paid by SWICA first and they later send me a bill - I hear that with other insurers, it's vice-versa sometimes.
But it's really an equation with a lot of variables that are not obvious on first or second look unfortunately.
We also have SWICA and would recommend them. Another big plus for SWICA over many of the others is that they provide nearly all documentation in English and have plenty of competent English-speaking folks in their offices to assist you.
I find it very confusing that many lately are posting about moving to CH with children and not working. Unless you are very very rich, how will you sustain yourself and the children? Do you have a residence permit? There is no real social welfare in Switzerland and you won't be entitled to unemployment or any social benefits.
I think her husband is working and she is looking?
Possibly...
You can probably make enough to live on if you get the children to work as chimney sweeps...
Switzerland has one of the best social welfare systems if you have a residence permit.
Is there an easy way to find English speaking doctors? I have done the comparis quote generator but when i go to the individual quotes to find which doctors I can use I then have been googling the doctor to see if they list English on their web/practice pages... its taking ages.. is there an easier way ?? we are moving to CH in June and I won't get health cover as I won't be working, so I want to choose an insurance plan that lets me choose and English speaking doctor - until I learn more german
We've got a "cheaper" health plan with Groupe Mutuel, for about 190 CHF per adult, and 90 CHF per child. Sometimes we pay for drugs and are reimbursed, but this is a minor issue in our books. The doctors and facilities have been great. As for finding an English speaking doctor, you will probably find that most speak at least some English. I stopped by the office to check before signing them as my GP. Zurich is international enough that you'll quickly know other people in your neighborhood in the same situation as you who will be able to suggest a doctor close by who speaks English.
I dont get it. How are you paying 190 a month? We are with GM as well and we pay 300 per month each. I thought it should be roughly the same for everybody for basic insurance, no?
If you are only looking for the basis, CPT is interesting in terms of premium (only 3.30 CHF more than Groupe Mutuel (Easy Sana, Avenir and Mutuel are all members of the same insurance) .. and they have an excellent client satisfaction. Their service is of high level.
Generally you will always find people speaking english.
If you look for a basis and a complementary covering natural medecine, acupuncture, paying like 300 CHF a year for glasses, 200 for fitness, repatriation and legal cover in case of problems, covering gynecologique checkups then i would suggest you to go for maxi.ch which is part of the group Helsana, the biggest in Switzerland. the basis is a bit more expensive than the Group Mutuel ... but the difference in price/service with the complementary is spectacular and will arrange for catching up on the difference in price of the basis and more. They also have a top service.
if you look rather for hospital coverage as complementary ... the most advantageous are the members of the Group Mutuel ... cheapest basis and veeery decent complementary price/service in the hospitalisation area.
Some people on this board praise Swica ... it is not a bad insurance for sure. Yet expensive ... for a same quality of service ... you get cheaper (and seriously) ... like with the Group Mutuel, Helsana or CPT. Normally these 3 should also settle with a card between drugstore/practician and insurance.
If you are going for the dead cheap ... go for Assura ... but do not expect a service ... you will have to pay your bills and send them to them so that they pay back. I never recommend it yet people who are never sick don't complain !! They have an additional element that is interesting is a complementary which covers your franchise ... for exemple you take a franchise at 2500 to lower your premium because you are never sick. Yet you are scared that you may spend time in hospital for an exceptional reason ... as a result ... your 2500 franchise will be straight for your pocket .... well Assura has a complementary that pays you 2500 if you spend more than 1 day in hospital ... hence paying back for your franchise. (group mutuel also has it).
i am broker/insurer ... if you want you can ask me for some quotes. Their are also plenty of insurers around you as well. My only advise about this is avoid going straight to the insurance. Go through a broker dealing with many insurances. He will be able to find the best fit in terms of insurance company, doctor solution and price. If the broker offers you an expensive insurance ... refer to Comparis.ch or Bonus.ch, if he tells you that these site aren't good, change broker. The prices you will pay with a broker will be the same than going straight to the insurance. The broker gets his commission from the insurance ... not from you.
PS : not working will only make your insurance more expensive because you will have to pay for the accident insurance. (when you work as an employee, the employer has to pay for that) ... yet maybe your are entitled to receive subsidies. I (like any decent broker/insurer) can help you on that as well. It depends how high your revenue is (for the family) and how many people you are. The request is very simple.
At a 190 chf/months i guess that they may have a 2500 franchise. 300 chf/months sound more like a 500/300 CHF franchise. (unless their are differences extremes in canton, doctor solution formula and brand)
Also you have to make sure you have the doctor solution ... telmed, medecin de famille or basic. Price difference can vary by 100 CHF as well.
Then it also will depend on what canton you are located in. Some are cheaper than others. And depending on the canton ... they can differ.
A typical case is : a person is insured with insurance X, which is the cheapest in Zurich (exemple only !), the person moves to canton Bern ... and with insurance X will pay more than previously and also more than other insurances that were more expensive in canton Zurich.
It is regulated ... with reserves ... that is why a same insurance has often more than one brand. (like Group Mutuel you refer to has Philos, Avenir, Group Mutuel and Easy Sana)
But basically, the insurance coverage of the Basic remains the same accross all basis insurances. They are regulated by the Government. the law is refered to as Lamal. No matter what price you pay.
If you send me a description of what you have i can sort it out for you. I will do it for the sake of helping.