Swiss insurance for expats: six policies, one set of cover.

If you are newly arrived, start with health and liability.

You have up to 90 days to get your compulsory insurance in place. Both of these are time-bound, and both are cheaper to arrange properly than to correct later.

• Liability insurance — required in practice rather than by law. Swiss landlords and letting agents routinely ask for proof of it before handing over a flat, and most cantons do require it if you keep a dog. Third-party motor insurance, by contrast, is compulsory before a vehicle can be registered. Liability is often bundled into household contents insurance and is cheaper that way than as a stand-alone cover.
• Mandatory medical insurance — you must register within three months of cantonal registration. Cover is backdated to your arrival date and all premiums for that period must be paid. Miss it, and the canton can assign you an option — often more expensive — plus possible surcharges.

Common questions

Which insurances are actually compulsory in Switzerland?

Basic health insurance for everyone resident here, third-party motor insurance before a vehicle can be registered, and accident insurance (UVG) through your employer. Building insurance is compulsory in most cantons for owners, and some cantons run their own scheme. Everything else — household contents, private liability, legal protection, travel — is optional in law, however strongly landlords or common sense may push you towards it.

Source: ch.ch, personal liability insurance

What is the difference between basic and supplementary health cover?

Basic insurance (KVG/LaMal) is compulsory, and the benefits are set by federal law — so every insurer covers exactly the same treatments, and only the premium and service differ. Supplementary cover is optional and is where insurers actually differ: private or semi-private hospital rooms, dental, glasses, alternative medicine, worldwide cover.

Source: FOPH, requirement to obtain health insurance

Can I change health insurer to reduce my premium?

Yes, and it is the single most reliable way to cut your Swiss outgoings. Basic insurance can be changed at the end of each calendar year, subject to notice, and because the benefits are identical by law you lose nothing by moving. Supplementary policies are different — insurers can decline you, so never cancel those before the replacement is confirmed in writing.

Source: FOPH, requirement to obtain health insurance

Do I need household contents insurance if I rent?

It is not required by law, but it is the policy most Swiss rental contracts effectively assume, because private liability cover is normally bundled into it — and that is what your landlord asks to see. Buying the two together is cheaper than buying liability on its own.

Source: ch.ch, personal liability insurance