(edit title) Health Insurance as an EU citizen with job When am I insured where, and how? Options

[elk200]

Hi everyone,

I recently moved to Sweden. I am a EU citizen and in my home country, my insurance will last until August 31 (I checked back with my health insurance about that). My job in Sweden starts on September 1 with an open-end contract, and I definitely intend to stay longer than a year.

I had assumed that I would automatically be insured in the Swedish system once I start paying into it, but it doesn't seem to be that easy. I called Försäkringskassan, but the guy there seemed more confused than me...

I filed my application for a residence permit with Migrationsverket a month ago and they told me it may take them another 2 months to decide. (Apparently there is a lot of deciding to do for an EU citizen who already has a job.) I thought that once I am granted the residence permit I could take that to Skatteverket and then apply for a personnummer, to then be health-insured - but that apparently also takes up to 2 months. Worst case, that could leave me with a total 3 months in which I am not insured, unless there is a quicker way than getting a personnummer.

Does anyone have some advice on this issue? Thanks!

[Puffin]

Health insurance will kick in as soon as you register with Skatteverket - hopefully it will not take as long as 2 months - I am an EU citizen and my personal number came within 5 days.

You can also bring you European Health Card that will cover emergency treatment before your Skatteverket registration comes through - if you take medication bring enough for a month or two

You can register with Försäkringskassan once you have registered with Skatte verket - FK cover social insurance such as sick pay and pensions etc.

You could also join an A-kassa for unemployment pay - you need to pay on for a year

[elk200]

Health insurance will kick in as soon as you register with Skatteverket - hopefully it will not take as long as 2 months - I am an EU citizen and my personal number came within 5 days.

Will that work retrospectively? E.g., Skatteverket confirms my registration by November, but I would have been insured retrospectively since September - and then they would cover all bills that I had to pay in the meantime?

I do actually have the option to extend my insurance in my home country. And they would give me my money back afterwards if I can prove that I was insured here from September 1 onwards. But I would find it grossly unfair if I pay my taxes here, get no health insurance and have to pay another health insurance somewhere else.

I do have the EU health card which is valid until 2014; but my current insurance company explained that would turn invalid with the expiration of my insurance on August 31.

[Yorkshireman]

They get confused for good reason

You will be covered by Sweden, as you are resident and having income here.

If You were a posted worker, then in most cases you are covered by your home country, especially if your salary is paid there, for 1 year possibly 2. Means you need the EHIC card, and other possible insurance that is not covered by the EHIC.

Of-course there may be a small period in-between that becomes a gray zone due to administration times :S ...did you de-register in your home country from the social benefits system? If not, order a new EHIC card just in case.

Remember, sometimes these rules are confusing :S ...and even the civil servants are not fully aware, they're only human too (probably underpaid also!)

If at anytime you receive a negative response from Skatteverket or Försäkringskassan ... ALWAYS, ask for it writting and that they state the laws used to base the decision upon ...otherwise you have no grounds to appeal, as there is no formal decision. It seems to be growing the number of incidents where they give verbal responses that are negative, but dont follow through with written decisions that some people tend to accept ... do not let them get away with that, it is not the normal swedish way

[hjoian]

If you are EU,you dont need to apply for a resident permit. You should however register your right of residence within 3 months of arriving. Migrationsverket refused me a residence permit, but cannot refuse you right of residence under EU law,if you fullfill the small print.

Agree with Yorkshireman, any refusals about ANYTHING, get it in writing and make sure people who made the decisions put there name on it,and explanations as to how they have come to their decision.

EHIC will cover you for emergency. Are you accident prone , currently sick, or just like giving your money away to insurers who will do their utmost not to pay out when needed?

[elk200]

If you are EU,you dont need to apply for a resident permit. You should however register your right of residence within 3 months of arriving.

I guess you are right and what I have done is "register my right of residence", but there is still formally a decision pending. As far as I know, I need that decision before I can get my personnummer at Skatteverket. Or has anyone else done it differently?

In any case, I have explained my situation in an e-mail to Försäkringskassan. Their reply was:

"It is difficult for us to give you an answer without access to your personal number."

...and then directed me to their hotline. I disregarded that though and sent another e-mail, hoping that someone there will actually read what I sent to them.