There seems to be a window between arriving and being properly in the public system, and I keep reading it's where people get caught uninsured. How did you bridge it?
Bridged it with a short-term private policy for the first few months specifically. Worth the modest cost purely for the peace of mind during the gap.
Same gap, currently uninsured and nervous about it honestly.
My employer covered the gap automatically as part of onboarding — worth checking if that’s already sorted before buying anything separately yourself.
Thailand: no public option for me at all. Private international policy from day one, paid myself.
Update since I was the uninsured one here: student cover is sorted and starts on the first day of the semester. Much calmer now.
What I learned in the gap: short-term private cover is fine for accidents and sudden illness, but it usually excludes anything you already had. If you have an ongoing condition, check that detail first, because it's the part that surprises people. I found out when I needed a routine prescription and the policy didn't cover it.
Exactly this for me in Spain before my registration went through. I bought a short private policy and never used it, which was the best possible outcome.
Following up on my own question: I went with a short private policy for three months, then switched when my registration came through. Isabella's point about existing conditions is the one to underline.
Anna's employer point is worth repeating: check what's already covered first.