Valuable information on health insurance for cross-border commuters
Below we inform all cross-border commuters from Austria to Switzerland / Liechtenstein about 8 important things you need to know about cross-border commuter insurance.
8 things you should definitely know about private health insurance for cross-border commuters
1. the insurance cover:
The “cross-border commuter products” of Austrian private insurers offer comprehensive, permanent insurance cover that cannot be terminated by the insurer. Their benefits are not comparable with those of statutory health insurance, as in most areas you can obtain significantly better insurance cover. For example, you are treated as a preferred private patient, usually have first-class insurance cover, entitlement to a chief physician, unlimited cover for outpatient costs, regardless of whether you see a panel doctor or a doctor of your choice, dental insurance and much more.
Martin Häusler (Managing Director B-Quadrat): “Most of our customers find it almost incomprehensible that private health insurance for cross-border commuters offers much better cover than statutory health insurance (ÖGK) and is usually much cheaper.”
2. one-time exercise of the right to vote:
The right to choose health insurance generally exists within the first 3 months after taking up “cross-border commuter work”. After that, the right to choose again only exists in the event of marriage or birth. A change of private insurer is possible with a new health check (see points 3. and 4.) and with premium classification at the current age. However, if you work in Austria again or are registered with the AMS, you will automatically be insured again within the Austrian social security system regardless of this.
Martin Häusler (Managing Director B-Quadrat): “Private cross-border commuter insurance cannot be retained. It must be terminated if you have statutory insurance or converted into private supplementary health insurance. If you convert to private supplementary health insurance, you will be charged the premium with your original entry age with certain providers and you do not have to undergo a new health check.”
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3. health check:
When taking out health insurance for cross-border commuters, private insurers do not require a medical examination. However, it is all the more important to answer the health questions on the insurance application correctly and completely. Your insurer needs this information in order to calculate the correct insurance premium for the desired insurance cover and to make a correct risk assessment.
Martin Häusler (Managing Director of B-Quadrat): “Only in a few cases is it not possible to take out private health insurance. However, it happens time and again that an insurer charges or wants to charge a premium surcharge due to a certain health risk. In these cases, we always submit several applications to different insurers, because our aim is to find the best health insurance solution for our customers.”
4. incorrect or incomplete information on the application:
Culpable breach of the pre-contractual duty of disclosure can have serious consequences: According to §16 of the Insurance Contract Act, the insurer is entitled – and in the interests of the rest of the insurance community also required – to withdraw from the insurance contract or to assess the risk as if it had known about it from the outset. This means that in many cases of a VVA violation, an offer of continued insurance (continued insurance including premium surcharge) is made.
Martin Häusler (Managing Director of B-Quadrat): “It is therefore essential that the insurer’s health questions are completed to the best of your knowledge and belief, as private health insurance for cross-border commuters cannot be terminated in principle, except in the event of a culpable breach of the pre-contractual duty of disclosure.”
5. transfer of residence abroad:
If you move your place of residence to Switzerland, Liechtenstein or back to your home country, e.g. Germany, you are automatically obliged to take out insurance with one of the health insurance funds responsible there. For this reason, your private cross-border commuter insurance will also end. Please inform your private health insurer immediately of such a change of residence. (For the right of continuation, see point 8.)
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6. termination of cross-border commuter activity:
If you end your employment abroad and take up work in Austria, are registered with the unemployment office or draw an Austrian statutory pension, your private cross-border commuter insurance will also end. Please also inform your insurer of this immediately. (For the right of continuation, see point 8.)
7. interruption of cross-border commuter activity (e.g. unemployment):
If it is foreseeable that your cross-border commuter activity will only be temporarily interrupted, you have the option of placing your insurance in “qualifying status” for a small contribution. This ensures that your insurance can be revived regardless of any deterioration in your state of health and without a new age classification. Ask us about your personal situation. We will be happy to help you.
8. right of continuation of the insurance
In the event of termination of cross-border commuter insurance (points 5. and 6.), you have the right with many insurers to continue the cross-border commuter health insurance as supplementary insurance to the statutory insurance – to the extent of the acquired rights and the tariff offer for socially insured persons – up to the scope of the benefits included in the cross-border commuter insurance. It is very important that you change your tariff as soon as you stop working as a cross-border commuter, otherwise the insurer may ask you to answer health questions again and classify you as a new customer.
Martin Häusler (GF B-Quadrat): “Preferential treatment (age classification according to initial application acceptance, no health questions,…) is only possible promptly – usually within one month.”
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