Our top recommendations for extended stays abroad
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Basic insurance only covers emergency treatment abroad – the level of cost coverage varies depending on the country and region in which you are staying.
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You can find travel information for all countries on the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
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Don’t forget to take your health insurance card for stays abroad in the EU. It can be found on the reverse side of your Visana insurance card. It is a good idea to take your card with you when you are outside Europe too.
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Proof of your insurance in English is explicitly required for stays abroad in some countries and can be requested online.
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It may make sense to transfer your centre of vital interests to the country concerned if you intend to stay abroad for longer than 12 months. You can find important information on our emigration page.
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If you have a medical emergency abroad, you can contact Visana’s 24/7 emergency helpline at any time on +41 848 848 855. We advise you, organise medical assistance, provide confirmations of cost coverage, arrange repatriation and support you in relation to administrative matters.
Our insurance solutions for extended stays abroad
Whether you’re off on a sabbatical, a semester abroad or an extended trip, it is worth taking a closer look at your insurance before you leave the country. Are you sufficiently insured against accidents, incidents or disputes? Check your insurance cover so you can start your stay abroad with peace of mind.
You still need to be insured, even if you stay outside Switzerland for an extended period of time and transfer your place of residence to a foreign country in the meantime. This means that your mandatory basic insurance will remain in place.
You can receive benefits under basic insurance even in the event of a lengthy stay abroad. This generally covers treatment costs for emergencies and unforeseen illnesses. However, it only covers costs up to twice the amount that would be paid for comparable treatment in Switzerland. This means you may have to cover a portion of the costs yourself while abroad.
Basic insurance covers the costs of emergency treatment abroad. Depending upon the country and the region, only a part the treatment costs are covered, and you may be required to pay for any residual portion yourself. The same applies in relation to medical transport or repatriation that is not covered by basic insurance. In order to ensure comprehensive cover abroad, it therefore makes sense to take out top-up insurance or travel insurance.
Good to know
- Retention fee and deductible abroad: Treatment costs in public hospitals in the EU/EFTA are dealt with under the European health insurance card. Insured persons have to pay private clinics’ bills themselves, then submit them at a later stage. In such cases, the Swiss rules on deductibles and cost contributions are applicable. The same applies for treatment in the EU / EFTA.
- Travel insurance included: Vacanza travel insurance is automatically included for eight weeks per trip in our Hospital and Outpatient top-up insurance plans.
Basic insurance covers the costs of sudden illness abroad, regardless of the model you have chosen. If you have an accident abroad, basic insurance only covers the costs if you also have accident insurance.
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Emergency treatment in public hospitals or physicians’ practices.
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Basic insurance covers the costs that are also covered in the respective country.
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Basic insurance covers up to a maximum of twice the cost that would be charged for comparable treatment.
Upgrade your basic insurance with additional outpatient cover to ensure more comprehensive protection and comfort when abroad.
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Free choice and more comfort in hospital
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Repatriation benefits
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Cost contribution for travel-related and preventive vaccinations
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Cover for the costs of medication not reimbursed under compulsory basic insurance
Accident insurance covers you in the event of an accident abroad. If you are not insured through a Swiss employer, you should take out private accident insurance cover.
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Cover for medical expenses in the event of an accident (physician, hospital, therapy)
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Daily allowance upon inability to earn a living following an accident
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Invalidity and death benefits
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Supplement to basic insurance (Accident Insurance Act, AIA)
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Can be combined with top-up health insurance
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Worldwide insurance cover
Damage to the host parents’ car, arguments with the landlord of a holiday apartment or a dispute with a foreign university. There are many different reasons why comprehensive financial and legal protection is important during a stay abroad.
Our personal liability insurance protects you against the financial consequences if you injure another person or damage their property. Our legal protection supports you quickly and without any hassle in the event of any disputes.
Good to know
- Personal liability insurance is valid abroad for 24 months: Our personal liability insurance protects you against financial consequences worldwide for a period of two years.
- Household contents insurance: If you sublet your home during your stay abroad, we strongly recommend that you take out household contents insurance for yourself as the primary tenant.
You are protected against the financial consequences of property damage or if you cause harm to a third party.
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Worldwide cover
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Liability protection for personal injury, property damage and financial losses
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Protection if children cause damage
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Cover for lawyers’ fees and compensation costs
Making sure you are legally protected in the event of any disputes while abroad and receive professional support.
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Traffic legal protection in the event of accidents or fines
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Cover for lawyers’ fees and court costs up to CHF 500,000 – or up to CHF 100,000 outside Europe
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Telephone legal advice included
Visana’s car insurance covers damage in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and all of the countries listed on the international insurance card.
If you are travelling abroad, you should therefore always carry yours with you, as well as a European Accident Statement. This means you have documentation to prove that you are sufficiently insured.
Drive safely and legally with the right car insurance.
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Mandatory personal liability insurance
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Partial and fully comprehensive cover
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Cover in the event of glass damage, theft and parking damage
Travel insurance protects you against the financial consequences of unexpected events during your stay abroad.
The protection provided by Vacanza travel insurance is available worldwide, irrespective of whether you are travelling in Europe, Asia or the Americas. It starts when your journey begins and ends when you return to Switzerland – within the term of insurance selected by you. You should therefore adapt the term to suit your travel arrangements and make sure you have optimal cover abroad at all times.
Good to know
Flexibly adjust insurance cover: You can take out our so-called long-term insurance for longer stays abroad. You can choose between 8, 16 or 26 weeks’ or 8, 10 or 12 months’ insurance cover per year.
With Vacanza travel insurance, you benefit from comprehensive cover on all of your journeys and adventures.
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Worldwide protection in the event of illness, accident or emergency
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24-hour immediate assistance service – the number can be found on the reverse side of your insurance card
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Repatriation to Switzerland
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Cover for the costs of treatment abroad
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Rescue abroad up to CHF 25,000
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Cancellation cover and trip interruption insurance
What are the different types of stay abroad?
There can be various reasons for extended stays. You will need to take various aspects of your insurance into account depending upon the form and duration of the stay.
Note
Even if you de-register as a Swiss resident and take out foreign health insurance abroad, you are still obliged to maintain insurance cover in Switzerland. You must therefore continue to pay your mandatory basic insurance premiums and cannot simply cancel your cover.
If you are going to take an extended break from work, you should find out first whether or not you will still remain insured against accidents through an employer during this period. If you have given notice to resign from your job before the upcoming trip, you will have to take out accident insurance over and above your basic insurance. As regards the other steps you can take to prepare thoroughly for an extended trip, we have summarised some useful tips for your next trip on our page Travel preparations.
During an exchange you should check whether your Swiss health insurance offers sufficient protection or whether additional foreign health insurance is necessary. Many exchange programmes also require personal liability insurance covering any losses caused to guest families or schools. It is also important to organise your visa, school certificates and any vaccinations you may need in good time.
Students should ensure that the benefits under basic insurance are supplemented by top-up insurance or travel insurance. Depending upon the duration of the period of study (single semester or entire course of study), foreign health insurance may offer comprehensive protection. Liability and legal protection insurance should also be taken out in order to provide cover in the event of any damage, dispute or early termination of studies.
People who travel abroad to work on projects as freelancers or business owners are often responsible for issues such as pensions, insurance and tax. Depending upon the circumstances and the duration of the stay abroad, it may make sense to de-register as a Swiss resident in order to be able to suspend certain types of insurance. It is absolutely essential to obtain advice on the right insurance solutions before a lengthy stay abroad.
Your advantages at a glance
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Tailored insurance solutions for your stay abroad
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Covered worldwide in the event of illness or accident, with Vacanza travel insurance
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Financial security in the event that your stay abroad is cut short
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Straightforward assistance in emergencies – by phone or digitally
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Worldwide coverage of hospital costs
Receive comprehensive information in relation to any questions or uncertainties so that you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.
Useful services for you
In most EU countries, you no longer need to carry this insurance card with you. However, it is still compulsory in some Eastern European countries, as well as in Turkey.
You receive it automatically by email as a PDF, along with your policy, the GCI, the standard insurance card, and notification of your annual premium on the principal expiry date.
If you can no longer find this email, no problem. There are several easy ways to request the documents again:
- Online form
Fill in our form. Your query will immediately be forwarded to our service team. - Email
Email us at auto@visana.ch and state your vehicle registration number. - Your Visana agency
Give us a call or drop by – we will resend the PDF to you by email, or print the documents for you at the counter.
Find an agency near me
We will make sure that you receive your insurance card quickly and easily, so you have protection when travelling – even abroad.
Insured with peace of mind in every life situation
Frequently asked questions about health insurance and other insurance for extended stays abroad
In the event of illness, compulsory basic insurance covers the costs of treatment abroad, provided that you fall ill unexpectedly and returning to Switzerland is impossible or unreasonable.
If you have an accident abroad, your basic insurance only covers the treatment costs if you have included accident cover in your basic insurance. If you have accident insurance through your employer, their insurance will pay your treatment costs.
However, you are not covered for the cost of scheduled medical treatment, repatriation and rescue.
If you have to go to hospital as the result of illness or an accident while you are abroad, the costs paid by your basic insurance will depend on the country you are in.
- In EU or EFTA Member States, your basic insurance will cover your treatment costs provided the treatment was medically necessary. You will only have to pay the normal retention fee for the country in question.
- In countries outside the EU/EFTA, your basic insurance will, in a medical emergency, pay no more than twice the amount the same treatment would cost in Switzerland.
If you want more comprehensive hospitalisation cover, it is worthwhile taking out top-up insurance.
- If you find yourself in an acute emergency abroad, you should immediately call the respective country’s emergency number and seek medical assistance.
- Notify us of your emergency by calling our 24/7 emergency hotline on +41 848 848 855. We can then provide immediate support with organising medical assistance, assessing costs and other administrative tasks. At the same time, you will be told which costs are covered and whether any additional evidence is required.
- Collect all receipts and invoices locally and request detailed medical reports on your treatment. You will then need to submit these to your relevant insurers.
If you are moving abroad temporarily, for example, to study for a term or to work as a digital nomad, you have to keep your compulsory insurance in Switzerland. This applies even if you have given notice of departure in Switzerland for a limited period.
Do you already live outside Switzerland or are you planning to move abroad? If so, your legal requirement to hold insurance in Switzerland may lapse. This is the case if you fulfil the following conditions:
- Your domicile and centre of vital interests are outside Switzerland.
- You do not work in Switzerland.
- Your employer’s business headquarters are not in Switzerland.
- You are not receiving a pension from a Swiss social insurance provider.
We have listed what you need to do to prepare effectively for an extended stay abroad and what you need to be aware of on the page Travel preparations: useful tips for your next trip.
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