Family & settling in
Your insurance checklist for work, home and daily life
A useful insurance checklist starts with risks and the people exposed to them. Make a table showing who is insured, what event triggers payment, the deductible and the start date. This helps distinguish medical bills, lost earnings and damage to someone else's property.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Separate health and workplace protection
Arrange compulsory health insurance for each family member subject to the Swiss system. Ask HR which accident insurer covers you and whether your weekly hours give you full non-occupational accident protection. Coverage for work accidents and coverage during leisure time have different conditions. Request the employer's sickness salary-continuation or daily-allowance terms too: paying a medical bill and replacing your salary are different benefits.
Check the household's actual exposures
Review personal liability for harm to others and household contents cover for your belongings. These are separate from basic health insurance. Ask which household members, rented-property damage and pet-related incidents are included, and compare exclusions and deductibles. Check any cantonal obligations and the lease's requirements. Use an inventory of valuable belongings to assess the sum insured rather than simply accepting the first packaged offer.
Manage changes as carefully as purchases
Keep policy documents and emergency contacts accessible to both adults. Ask existing insurers how moving to Switzerland affects territorial cover and cancellation. Review protection again after a job change, reduced working hours, unpaid leave or the arrival of a child. For supplementary health insurance, obtain the new insurer's acceptance and compare conditions before ending an existing contract. Schedule an annual review around renewal deadlines and changes in household circumstances.