Is household insurance mandatory in Switzerland?
The answer
Not at federal level. It is BUILDING insurance that is compulsory in most cantons — and it concerns the owner, not the tenant.
Why
Many tenancy agreements do require personal liability cover, often sold together with household insurance. Read the lease: it creates the obligation, not the law.
The real risk is not being uninsured but being underinsured. If the sum insured is 60 % of the true value of your belongings, a CHF 5,000 loss will be reimbursed at only CHF 3,000: the insurer applies the proportional rule, even on a small claim.
The other questions
- Which is the cheapest health insurer in Switzerland?
- How much does health insurance cost in Switzerland?
- How much does health insurance cost for a child?
- When can I change health insurer?
- Can a Swiss health insurer refuse you?
- Are the benefits the same at every insurer?
- Which deductible should I choose?
- Does the family doctor model really save money?
- Can I remove accident cover from my health insurance?
- What is the difference between the deductible and the co-payment?
- Why does my neighbour pay less than me?
- Why do premiums rise every year?
- How do I cancel my Swiss health insurance?
- What happens if I do not pay my premium?
- Do I have to insure a newborn, and when?
- How many health insurers are there in Switzerland?
- How long do I have to get insured when arriving in Switzerland?
- Does my employer insure me against accidents?
- What happens to my insurance if I move to another canton?
- What happens to my insurance if I lose my job?
- Is personal liability insurance mandatory in Switzerland?
- Partial or comprehensive casco: which one?
- Should I report a small claim to my car insurer?
- Can a supplementary policy be cancelled together with basic insurance?
- Is buying into your pension fund worth it?
Source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), official premiums.