Health insurance: Recipients of an EU/EFTA pension

Under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, pensioners resident in Switzerland who are exclusively in receipt of a pension from an EU/EFTA country are required to obtain health insurance in that country.

Since the entry into force of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and EU countries, health insurance obligations have been governed by the principle of place of work. In the case of pensioners, the place of work principle is based on the former exercise of a remunerated activity which now entitles the person concerned to receive a pension.

Pensioners resident in Switzerland who are exclusively in receipt of a pension from an EU/EFTA country are required to be insured in that country.

Pensioners resident in Switzerland who are simultaneously in receipt of a pension from an EU/EFTA country and a Swiss pension (AHV/IV/MV/UV/BV) are required to be insured in Switzerland, irrespective of the amount of the Swiss pension.

Common Institution under the KVG

In Switzerland, the institution responsible for international coordination of health insurance for persons resident in Switzerland and receiving a pension from an EU/EFTA country is the Common Institution under the Health Insurance Act (KVG) in Solothurn.
The Common Institution under the KVG determines whether or not persons in receipt of an EU/EFTA pension are subject to health insurance obligations in Switzerland and registers those persons who are still required to obtain health insurance in the EU.

All the relevant information can be found on the website of the Common Institution under the KVG (see link below), to which any queries should be addressed directly.

Links

Common Institution under the KVG – Registration of persons insured in an EU/EFTA country who are resident in Switzerland

Further information

Last modification 17.08.2018