This should answer your question:

http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/krankenversicherung/06377/index.html?lang=en

And for Geneva (in French only):

http://www.ge.ch/assurances/maladie/principes-base.asp

Thank you, it does not really answer my question, there is no information about opting out if one is a resident of another country with the main Home of Record in that country. I am bound by law to have health insurance in Germany so I cannot be bound in Switzerland I can only assume...thank you for the link, I will search the site and see what else I can find!
All the Best,

Steven

I am not 100% sure but I think than the german state insurance works in Switzerland because the coverage is not less than the swiss standard health insurance. It would not work if you had a french or british standard insurance.

Somewhere in the links (I think in the FAQ) it says that if you are bound by law to have health insurance in another country, you may be exempted from taking up insurance in Switzerland IF that insurance offers similar coverage to the Swiss one. You will have to check that with the canton where you will be working (as far as I understand you won't be living, but only working in Switzerland? - I thought that as a non-EU national you're not allowed to do that... I would check these issues also...).

I have a private, EU health insurance, it is allowed in Hungary where I am here...thanks for your help!

Hi, 

It all depends on ur residence situation here in Switzerland. If you are going to have a working permit here in Geneva than it is mandatory for you to subscribe to a Swiss Health insurance, the international is unvalid since the governement will not recognize it.

If you want, I can give you advise on different types of Swiss Insurance since I am an insurance advisor myself in a brokerage company here in geneva.

If you have any more questions or would like to set up a meeting so I can explain you everything more in details please do not hesitate in contacting me  by sending me an email to: [email protected]

Hi!

Im Hungarian, I'll be living in Switzerlan from January. I also got the EU Health Insurance, but someone said I have to subscribe to a Swiss Health Insurance. Also heard that there is an option, which only covers you when you  get contacct with your doctor via phone! I used to live in London for 6years, 1 year in Milan. In both countreis they accepted my EU Health Card.

Thank you!

Timea

Hey Timea,

Jó Napot!
I am actulay living in Budapest but moving to Zurich so I have the same problem, I cannot get a straight answer, not even from the agencies that charge 3000 CHF just to speak to them.
I would be happy to hear any updates you may find out.

Tahnks!
Steven

Hi Steven!

I'll let you know, if I find some more USEFUL (!!) information about the Swiss Insurance :)

When are you going to move to Zurich?

Thanks!
I start part time in Jan just getting used to the city and then full time in Feb/March depending on the work and living permits, since I am an American it takes longer...or so they say!

or so they say

First of all, you have to check if your hungarian insurance has at least the same coverage as the compulsory swiss health insurance. This coverage is defined by law (called LAMal in French, or KVG in German) but you can also find this information in English on https://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/info/glossar/leistungen-krankenpflegeversicherung.aspx

If your insurance is not equivalent to this, you will have to get a Swiss one, unless you're in one of the other categories that benefit from exemptions (you can find this in the links I posted above).

If you're still not sure, you might have to wait until you arrive in Switzerland and check directly with your Canton of residence (you have 3 months to get health insurance, so you do have some time to check).

The reason why health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland is that it's not a state system like in the UK or in France. If you don't have proper health insurance and you get sick you will have to pay it out of your own pocket.

Thank you Eva, I will chekc this out!

The matter is quite complex and it's sometimes difficult to give a precise answer without knowing all the facts. The general principle is that a Swiss health insurance is compulsory when you reside in Switzerland. There are several agreements between Switzerland and the EU about this topic and there are a few limited exceptions. I remember a case in which the Swiss tax authorities accepted to renounce to the mandatory Swiss insurance if the concerned person could present a form to be stamped by the foreign insurance (each year..) and which certified that the foreign insurance provided for equivalent coverage. I am not sure if that could apply to your case. In practice, I would first check with the cantonal authority if such equivalence could be recognized and if they say no, you could address the question to a lawyer who is specialized in this field.

Steven:

Sari gave you a straight answer, and even suggested to help you with more questions.

Nir

Thanks guys! :)
I have a part wich is a little chineese :)

https://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/info/glossar/franchise.aspx

Thank you everyone, especialy to Nir for being the father type ;-) as I wrote above; once I get the official answer and it is detailed, I will then begin to ask deeper questions, no reason going crazy, as you know: the info one may have is not nessecarily what the officals will want to see...this is my 8th country and I am used to getting all kinds of info before moving forward. I thank you all for your time!

Per, I passed this to my HR department, lets see what they come up with, so far everything I passed to them has been shot down...

I'm less of a father, more of a granny. Any time you need advice (or a hug) from granny, come see me. 

Enjoy the move to CH.  

adendum ...  it is my understadnign that an international BUPA type insurance would work   so I would serioulsy look into keeping it - check  the coverage carefully ask them !  

Swiss health insurance is extortionate .. as a frontalier I pay 8,500 a year for what i thought was a rolls royce coverage - but it is not .. it is for a general ward in the event something goes wrong and no dentist coverage at all 

that said,  the medical care is very good  - if you can get swiss cover on a foreign policy dont give it up lightly 

Hi,

Seems that some of you guys are still confused with the Insurance system here in Switzerland, let me explain:

If you are EU citizen or not, once you have a resident or a working permit here in Switzerland it is mandatory for you to be insured by a Swiss Insurance, it cannot be international even if it has the same coverage as the cumpolsory one, it has to be a Swiss one.

If you are a student here in Switzerland, meaning you have a Student Permit then you can subscribe to a non-Swiss Insurance which could be an international one, but it has to be one that is recognized by the Insurance department of the Canton you are residing in.

If you have a diplomatic Status, or a dipmlomatic permit (for people working in a embassy or a mission for example) then you can have any insurance you like. 

I hope this was clear, again if you need any further advice contact me to [email protected]

By the way thank you Nir,

Sari