A calm start to insurance in Switzerland — in your language.
For English-speaking families and professionals arriving in Switzerland. Clear explanations, personal advice, and support with the essentials.
Insurance for expats, at a glance.
On arrival in Switzerland, every family member — including children — must be enrolled in basic health insurance (KVG) within three months. Cover is retroactive to the date of arrival. Most families also take out personal liability and household contents insurance in the same period, often required by landlords.
Your first three months.
- 1Before arrival
Shortlist two or three health insurers, gather passports and permits, plan your commune registration.
- 2Week 1
Register your residence at the commune. Ask for the confirmation letter — insurers ask for it.
- 3Weeks 2–4
Apply for basic health insurance for every family member. Take out personal liability and household contents cover.
- 4Month 2
Consider supplementary health cover while health questions are still easy to answer.
- 5Within month 3
Confirm basic insurance is effective from your date of arrival. Keep all confirmations on file.
A calm, ordered checklist.
- Register your address at the commune within 14 days.
- Open a Swiss bank account for premium direct debits.
- Apply for basic health insurance for every family member.
- Take out personal liability insurance (often required by landlord).
- Add household contents insurance for your new home.
- Verify whether your canton requires a separate building or water damage rider.
- Diarise the 3-month deadline for retroactive health cover.
The essentials for the first three months.
- Register your residence at the commune.
- Enrol in basic health insurance within 3 months of arrival.
- Review household and liability cover for your new home.
- Understand cantonal differences that affect premiums.
Basic (KVG) is mandatory. Supplementary is optional.
- Basic cover is standardised across insurers.
- You have three months from arrival to enrol.
- Retroactive cover from your date of arrival if enrolled in time.
- Supplementary options vary — take your time to understand them.
Cover for the everyday, at home.
- Cover for contents against fire, water and theft.
- Often bundled with personal liability.
- Widely expected — and inexpensive — in Switzerland.
Widely expected in daily Swiss life.
- Cover for damage you may unintentionally cause to others.
- Often required for renting an apartment.
- Typically covers your entire household.
Simple, joined-up cover for parents and children.
- Basic health cover is individual — including for children.
- Household and liability cover typically extends to the family.
- Consider supplementary cover early for children.
Pitfalls we help expat families avoid.
Miss the 3-month window and cover is no longer retroactive.
Franchise and service matter as much as monthly cost.
Some benefits become harder to obtain with age or health changes.
Employer accident cover is not health cover for family life.
Expat insurance questions.
How soon must I enrol in Swiss health insurance after moving?
Can I keep my international or home-country health insurance instead?
Is household insurance mandatory in Switzerland?
Does my employer's accident insurance cover my family?
Do premiums really differ by canton?
Can you help me in English throughout the process?
Ready to talk it through?
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