Switzerland (CH)
Switzerland is a landlocked federal republic of 26 cantons at the heart of Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Switzerland, prioritised.
Switzerland is one of the most insurance-dense markets in the world — the average Swiss household holds 8+ active policies. Insurance culture is precise, formal, and contract-heavy: Swiss insurers favour explicit written terms, 12-month default contract durations with automatic renewal unless cancelled 3 months before expiry, and high penalties for gaps. Three insurances are strictly mandatory (health KVG/LAMal, third-party auto, building insurance in most cantons). Three more are strongly recommended and held by 90%+ of residents (household contents, personal liability, legal protection). Compare on comparis.ch, bonus.ch, hypo.ch, and priminfo.admin.ch (health only). Cancellation (Kündigung / résiliation): send by registered letter (Einschreiben / recommandé) by the contract-specified deadline — missed deadlines auto-renew for a full year.
Legally Mandatory
- - Basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) — compulsory for every resident within 3 months of arrival
- - Motor third-party liability (Motorfahrzeughaftpflicht / RC véhicule) — compulsory to register a vehicle
- - Building insurance (Gebäudeversicherung / assurance bâtiment) — compulsory in 19 cantons via cantonal monopoly (KGV, GVB, ECA etc.); private in 7 cantons (ZH, GE, TI, VS, UR, SZ, OW, AI)
- - Occupational accident insurance (UVG/LAA) — paid by employer for all employees; obligatory but NOT paid by employee
- - Workplace pension (BVG/LPP) — automatic through employer if earning CHF 22,680+/year
- - Old-age/disability insurance (AHV/AVS) — automatic payroll deduction, not optional
Basic Health Insurance (KVG/LAMal)
Mandatory private basic health insurance from a federally accredited insurer. Covers standard medical care; choose deductible CHF 300–2,500.
Who needs it: Every resident, no exceptions. Must enrol within 3 months of arrival.
Annual cost: CHF 3,600–6,500/year per adult depending on canton, age, deductible, model. Children: CHF 1,400–1,900/year.
Identical basic cover by federal law — only price differs. Compare on priminfo.admin.ch or comparis.ch. Change insurer once per year (notice by 30 November for January start).
Motor Third-Party Liability Insurance
Covers damage and injury caused to third parties by your vehicle. Unlimited liability for personal injury, minimum CHF 5 million by federal law.
Who needs it: Every vehicle owner — compulsory to register a car, motorcycle, or scooter.
Annual cost: CHF 500–1,200/year for a family car; bonus/malus system applies (up to 70% no-claim discount after 20 claim-free years).
Combine with partial (Teilkasko) or fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) for older/newer vehicles. Online discount 5–15% if you buy direct (e.g., Smile, AXA.ch).
Personal Liability Insurance
Covers damage you (or your family, pets) cause to others' property or persons. Critical for tenants — landlord's insurance does not cover damage YOU cause to the apartment.
Who needs it: Everyone, especially tenants. Many landlords demand proof of policy before signing the lease.
Annual cost: CHF 80–200/year for single; CHF 120–250/year for family. Usually included with Hausrat policy.
Minimum coverage CHF 5 million. Scratched parquet = CHF 10,000+ damage; dropping neighbour's TV = real common claim. Dog owners: mandatory in most cantons — bundled in Hundehaftpflicht.
Building Insurance
Covers the building structure against fire, natural hazards, water damage. Separate from contents insurance.
Who needs it: Property owners. In 19 cantons: compulsory via cantonal monopoly insurer (KGV, GVB, ECA, AGA, etc.) — you cannot choose. Private cantons: ZH, GE, TI, VS, UR, SZ, OW, AI.
Annual cost: CHF 300–1,500/year depending on insured value + cantonal rates.
If mortgaged: bank will insist on insurance with bank noted as beneficiary. Water-damage surcharge common; earthquake cover usually extra and pooled via Swiss Pool for Earthquake Coverage.
Pet Liability + Health Insurance
Dog liability is compulsory in most cantons. Pet health covers vet bills.
Who needs it: All dog owners (liability mandatory). Health insurance optional but vet bills are expensive.
Annual cost: Dog liability: CHF 80–200/year. Pet health: CHF 200–800/year depending on breed, age, coverage.
Dog liability often auto-included in Hundehaftpflicht section of your household/personal liability — check before double-buying. Pet health waiting periods 14–90 days typical.
Household Contents Insurance
Covers your furniture, electronics, clothing, valuables against fire, water, theft, and natural hazards. Sum insured = replacement value of all contents (typically CHF 80,000–250,000 for a family home).
Who needs it: Everyone with a rented or owned home. Almost universal in Switzerland (~95% coverage).
Annual cost: CHF 150–400/year depending on sum insured and canton.
Always bundled with Personal Liability (Privathaftpflicht) in one policy — 10–20% cheaper together. Add "Einfacher Diebstahl auswärts" (simple theft outside home) rider for CHF 20–50/year extra — covers stolen bags, phones, bikes.
Legal Protection Insurance
Covers lawyer fees, court costs, expert opinions in disputes: employment, tenancy, traffic, consumer, insurance disputes. Does NOT cover criminal defence beyond minor offences.
Who needs it: Strongly recommended — Swiss legal costs are high (lawyers CHF 400–800/hour). Tenants, drivers, employees particularly benefit.
Annual cost: CHF 200–500/year (individual); CHF 300–600/year (family).
Verify waiting period (Wartefrist) 3–6 months usually before new-contract claims accepted. Bundle road + private legal cover for 15–25% discount. Some employer benefit packages include it.
Life Insurance (Term / Risk)
Pays a fixed lump sum to your designated beneficiary if you die during the contract term. Critical for breadwinners with mortgage or dependants.
Who needs it: Sole earners, homeowners with mortgage, families with young children.
Annual cost: CHF 200–600/year for CHF 500,000 cover (non-smoker, age 35). Rises steeply with age.
Avoid "Mixed Life Insurance" (gemischte Lebensversicherung) — an expensive investment wrapper often sold aggressively. For wealth-building, use 3a private pension + ETFs separately. Pure term/risk policies are the honest product.
Disability / Income Protection Insurance
Pays monthly income if illness/accident prevents you from working. Top-up above the 40% AHV/IV state disability benefit and 60% BVG pension benefit — combined state benefit caps at about 60% of final salary.
Who needs it: Self-employed (not covered by BVG), high-earners, freelancers, sole breadwinners.
Annual cost: CHF 400–1,200/year for CHF 3,000/month top-up (age 35).
Waiting period (Wartefrist) before benefit starts: 3, 6, 12, or 24 months — longer waits = cheaper premium. Tie into Säule 3a for tax benefits.
Travel Insurance
Covers trip cancellation, lost luggage, medical emergency abroad, rescue/repatriation beyond what KVG covers.
Who needs it: Frequent travellers outside Europe. REGA patronage (CHF 40/year) is a must for ski/hiking activities in Switzerland.
Annual cost: CHF 100–300/year for annual policy (family); CHF 20–60 per trip.
Credit-card travel insurance (UBS Gold, Cornèr Visa Platinum, Swisscard Mastercard Gold) often includes decent trip-cancellation cover — check before buying stand-alone.
Comparison sites
Always read terms (Allgemeine Versicherungsbedingungen, AVB) carefully — Swiss insurers enforce exclusions strictly. German/French legal language matters; use the translated English version only for understanding, never for signing.
Cancel by registered letter (Einschreiben / recommandé) — emails and verbal cancellations are not legally binding for most non-KVG policies.
Note the 3-month notice period before automatic renewal. For KVG: notice by 30 November for January change.
Special cancellation right (ausserordentliches Kündigungsrecht): you can cancel mid-term within 30 days of a claim, or within 30 days of a premium increase — useful for switching after bad service.
Bundle policies for 10–20% discount (Hausrat + Haftpflicht + Rechtsschutz = one package with Mobiliar / Smile / AXA).
Online-only insurers (Smile, Simpego, Dextra) are typically 20–40% cheaper than traditional agents for standard products — but service via phone/email only.
Tenants: ALWAYS have Privathaftpflicht before moving in — many landlords require proof.
Avoid life-insurance investment products (gemischte Lebensversicherung, 3b capital life). Kept separately: term life + 3a pension + ETF portfolio = much better after-fee returns.
For USA citizens: some Swiss insurers refuse because of FATCA. Confirm acceptance before applying.
Insurance
Unlock the complete Insurance guide for Switzerland — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere