Should I move to Switzerland?

[Glasshalffullofwine]

Husband’s found a new job in Laussane. Very cool job, I’m half excited but I do love my life here. I’m mostly worried about the cost of it all.

We’d be there medium term, so for a few years. 2 children, one child in nursery, one in primary school.

Just a few questions….how much did it cost you to move out there (we have a small ish 3 bed home).

Can anyone signpost me to how I find out about medical insurance? I’m interested in the small print (medication & consultant fees, excess best place to find out?) I’ve had some recent issues and I’m worried that I’d be penalised and it would be incredibly pricey.

How much is it to go skiing & actually experience/access all the beautiful things the country has to offer? It just looks so incredibly expensive.

Any experience of Champittet school.

Any experience of living in Pully or Lutry?

How did you go about learning French/local language & how did you find it?

Best/worst things?

Thanks so much in advance

There is a really good Facebook group International mothers living in Switzerland
ch.ch is a great resource in English.
Most people live in apartments not houses. If you can find one with a communal playground- your children will make friends that way.
comparis.ch you can compare health insurance costs. The medical care here is excellent.
Im in the German speaking part. Switzerland is a great place to bring up children. If you like the outdoors it’s a great place to be

Thanks Swimswam.

Great shout on the communal playground, yes, aware of the apartment living, which I’m not too bothered about (as long as I can find somewhere with its own washing machine). I do also like the outdoors, so its quite appealing.

I may go back to the company about health insurance, as the comparis.ch is great, but the page I need for health insurance comparisons is indecipherable to me/not in English.

How long have you lived out in Switzerland?

Basic health insurance coverage is the same for all providers, they all have to offer the same. I don’t believe they can exclude for pre existing conditions, we have definitely never been asked for details. The supplementary insurance offering then varies by provider but usually anything pre-existing is excluded from supplementary cover. We’ve never taken any supplementary insurance anyway, I feel it’s more for additional comfort (private rooms, alternative therapies) and not actual medical care/treatment. We are with CSS, they offer all correspondence in English so the details should be available on their website.

DH company sponsored our move so I am not sure on the cost. Skiing can work out expensive, you may find it cheaper to go to a french resort across the border. But there is so much you can do that isn’t expensive. We just drive to the mountains for the day, sledge in winter and hike/picnic in summer.

Yes, I would think if your DH has been offered a transfer, the company should be meeting the cost of the move which can rapidly add up.

I have friends and family in Switzerland and they love it. It IS expensive though so it's important to be completely clear that the job is paying an appropriate salary for Switzerland, and not just for the UK.

@GerbilsForever24 makes a really good point about making sure the offer is as good as it sounds. I outlined some of our larger outgoings in another post in this section yesterday. For us it is absolutely worth it though, we love it here and have never regretted the move. Happy to answer any other questions you have!

For the health insurance you get to choose your excess between Fr.500 and Fr. 2500. After the excess you pay 10% up to about Fr.700, so there is a cap on how much you will ever need to pay in a year. The premiums are higher if you take a lower excess, but this worth it eg if you know for sure you will need over fr. 2500 of treatment. There are cheaper models such as Telmed, where you have to call a helpline before making an appointment.

I'm in the German part and ski day tickets are between Fr.50 for a small resort and up to Fr.90 for a big resort like Laax.

Hope that helps! englishforum.ch is helpful too.

Definitely look at public schools if you're staying medium term. Great opportunity for your children to learn French and integrate into the community and you'll learn faster too because you'll have to keep up!

Sounds like a great opportunity especially if you end up with bi- or tri- lingual children. What will your job options look like there op?

I'm so jealous :)

Thanks, we’ve been given a set moving budget that seems fair if we’re very careful, so I’m going to have to budget for a move and probably do a big clear out.

Thank you for the lovely replies and for the grace with my slow responses. I have to figure our how to replying to individual post, but here’s a follow up with main points/questions:

swissrollisntswiss - I love the idea of sledging and going into the mountains for a picnic. Maybe the higher cost of living might slow us down and get us out into nature more (we love the outdoors but I’d relish being more “outdoorsy”).

GerbilsForever24
Great that you like it!

Woundedknee607
I’m currently a SAHM & I think I could pick up some work when youngest goes to school. I’m thinking I’d like to spend the first year settling in, connecting & really make a big push to learn French.

Hechtfsn
Re Health Insurance, really helpful to know that you can change excess and premiums. Helps with budgeting.

Hechtfan
Re schools, we have majority of fee’s paid so we’d like to send our kids to a private french speaking, Swiss school. It is billed as an international school, but when my husband visited, he only heard French spoken by the children and in the school. Champittet if anyone knows it? I totally agree with comments on getting on with it and committing to immersing oneself. Hopefully, this school will also be a softer landing as 20% speak English and the school puts on a couple of English classes a week.

Thanks!

Champittet is great - have a good move!

There are other insurances than health to consider, third party liability, household, car etc. Remember to swap your uk driving licence within the year or you will find yourself having to take a local test.

You may not have the automatic right to work there as a trailing spouse.

My friend nearly did this but backed out when they realised even with a good moving budget and school fees paid they would only be able to rent a small flat instead of a family sized house. But that was a transfer with same company rather than a new job so the wage didnt buy as much as it did here.

@JJ8765 I would be surprised if they weren't offered a higher salary even if it was the same role? DH’s role was moved out here and he was offered considerably more to match the market rate out here. A lot of people move from the UK and want a house as that is what they are used to. Apartment living is huge here and totally normal for families. It means there are very few houses available and those that are, are either out of the city or extremely expensive. We’re total converts to apartment living though, we’re a family of 3 (soon to be 4) and live in a two bed with no problems. Everyone in the UK expects us to move but the lifestyle is so different here, so much more outside, that there really is no need for it.

Sorry huge waffle! You make a good point that the op needs to expect a change in their let bing arrangements, I just want to reassure them that it’s worth a try.

Thanks, I’m rather hoping that I’ll be a convert to apartment living, as there are many pluses! I hate the stairs in our house, for one thing. We’ve decided to take the plunge & go for it any way.

I’m actually relieved that we’ll have a small apartment, as its a good response to the hundreds of people that seen to assume that they can bag free accommodation for skiing. Literally, the first thing people ask is when they can visit. Although flattering, I kind of want to settle in first….

Congratulations on the baby news.

Next question, do you speak the local language & any tips for settling in? We’re enrolling our children into Swiss School, but one that’s intentional. I’m trying to madly learn French now that we’re definitely going….

Amazing. Thanks!

Thanks, yes there are lots of costs aren’t they. We’re lucky because we’re getting relocation help on that front. Still, helps to be reminded about driving license etc & get it all booked in.

With regards to your question about French lessons, many years ago I lived in Lausanne and I attended daily French lessons at the Migros adult education centre in Rue de Geneve, Lausanne which were very good. Appreciate this info might be out of date, but I think the Migros still run adult language courses (it is the same company as the Migros supermarkets). I also attended their French lessons in Geneva so they are run in different towns.

I loved Lausanne, it's beautiful with the Lake, cathedral and of course the trams- I love trams. And of course Switzerland is so well run, efficient and clean. You should be aware that there are usually strict rules about noise, even normal household noises, at night and early morning, in Swiss apartments, so bear that in mind.

I envy you and think you will have a great time.

I also live in Vaud and it's wonderful. There is a huge expat community. Migros is also great for affordable courses. Putting the kids in local school with give you a great start to mix with the locals, if you put in the effort, you will be rewarded!

Where exactly will you be based? I am more Nyon/Gland/Morges so can offer guidance on that area?

My language skills are embarrassingly poor given that we've been here for 5yrs. As a dependent permit holder you will likely have to pass A1 within in a year but it’s really basic. We needed A2 recently to get our settlement permits. We bought a text book to make sure we covered the themes but most of our knowledge came from Duolingo and Babbel and we passed easily. I know a number of trailing spouses who have done the intensive courses which is usually every weekday morning and they make really quick progress.

Yes apartments are so much easier to keep clean and tidy too! No moving things up and down stairs. A balcony is worth it though, the summer is that bit warmer/longer than the UK so you can use it a lot.

Thanks so much. Husband will be based in Lausanne and school will be in Pulley, so I think we’ll be sticking east of Laussane.

I’m really looking forward to downsizing, especially as I’m taking the opportunity of clearing out a lot of clutter. Yes, we’re looking for a balcony. Just wondering how hot you find the summers and what its like, sleeping at night in an apartment? Any tips? I notice lots of apartments have awnings and proper shutters, so are they kind of equipped for these things?

Congratulations!!!
We sold and then bought new.

Simmers can get pretty hot, fans are advisable.