GovWire

This guidance explains what you need to do in Liechtenstein depending on your circumstances.

You must have health insurance to live in Liechtenstein. There are 3 insurers that offer state mandatory insurance.

Even with insurance, healthcare is not free. You usually need to pay part of the cost of the treatment that you receive.

Theres only one hospital in Liechtenstein, in the capital city Vaduz.

The Liechtenstein government has arrangements with some hospitals in other countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Patients who need specialist treatment can be transferred there.

UK nationals usually access the Liechtenstein healthcare system in one of these ways:

• state mandatory health insurance
• using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for temporary stays when studying, or as a posted (detached) worker
• registering a UK-issued S1 form with one of the insurance funds (see UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Liechtenstein below)

Healthcare if you live and work in Liechtenstein

If you are planning on moving to Liechtenstein, see the guidance on Living in Liechtenstein for more information about visa and residency requirements.

You need to get a resident permit to live in Liechtenstein and you need to take out health insurance. There are 3 insurance providers:

• Concordia
• FKB (website in German)
• SWICA

Your dependants need to register for health insurance individually.

You can also buy extra insurance that covers you for additional costs such as dental care, or healthcare from a provider that is not contracted with the Office of Public Health.

Once youre a resident, you may also be entitled to a Liechtenstein EHIC for travel.

How to register for healthcare

Once you have a residence permit, you can choose a health insurance provider to join.

Once youve registered, your insurance provider will give you a health insurance card (Versicherungskarte). Show this when you visit a doctor.

When choosing a GP (website in German), make sure they provide state-funded healthcare.

Go to the GP practice to register and bring your health insurance card.

How to access healthcare services

Find your nearest hospital or clinic.

How much youll pay

Youll need to pay an annual cost (premium) for your insurance cover, as well as payments towards any healthcare you access (co-payments).

The insurance companies calculate their own premiums, but theyre usually about 300 to 320 Swiss Francs per month.

Theres no premium to pay for children until theyre 16. From the ages of 16 to 20, the premium is half price.

If youre working, half of your premium will be covered by your employer.

Your co-payments depend on your age and other circumstances.

You do not need to pay co-payments if:

• youre under 21
• youre chronically ill

If youre aged 21 to 64, you must pay the first 500 Swiss Francs of any healthcare that year (this is your excess or deductible). After that, you pay 20% of your healthcare costs until you reach a maximum of 1,400 Swiss Francs that year.

If youre over 65, you pay the same excess and then 10% of any healthcare costs after this until you reach a maximum of 950 Swiss Francs that year.

Usually healthcare providers send a bill directly to your insurance company, who will then work out how much you need to pay. If you have reached your maximum then the insurance company will pay.

All dental care in Liechtenstein is private and must be paid for in full.

If your UK employer has sent you to Liechtenstein temporarily (posted workers)

A posted worker is someone who is employed or self-employed in the UK, but temporarily sent to another European Economic Area (EEA) country.

You can use your UK EHIC, GHIC or registered S1 form to access healthcare in Liechtenstein on the same basis as a Liechtenstein citizen.

You may need to:

• join a local healthcare scheme
• cover the cost of your healthcare with private health insurance

HMRC has a helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you will need to get healthcare while posted.

UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 in Liechtenstein

Theres different guidance if you have an S1 as a posted worker (see If your UK employer has sent you to Liechtenstein temporarily (posted workers) above).

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if youre a Liechtenstein resident and receive either:

• a UK State Pension
• some other exportable benefits

You may also be entitled to an S1 if youre a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another). You must contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries to find out if youre eligible.

Once you have an S1 form, you must register it on the Liechtenstein system.

This will mean you and your dependants will be entitled to healthcare on the same basis as a Liechtenstein citizen.

Youll also get:

• a UK-issued EHIC for travel
• planned treatmentsin other EU countries, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland
• access to the NHS in England when youre visiting

Dependants and family members may be classified differently in Liechtenstein than the UK.

Check with the local authorities when you register your S1 form.

If youre entitled to an S1 form as a dependant of a State Pensioner, your health cover will be cancelled once you begin claiming your UK State Pension.

You will be sent a new S1 form to your registered address from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You must register this form to ensure continuation of healthcare cover.

You are responsible for informing NHS Overseas Healthcare Services if you change your address or your circumstances change.

How to get an S1

If you have a UK State Pension or another qualifying exportable benefit, you must request an application form by phone from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (see contact details above).

How to use an S1 in Liechtenstein

You must register your S1 with the National Office of Health (Amt fur Gesundheit, website in German) and then join a health insurance provider.

When registering your S1, you may be asked for a copy of your S1 and som

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