1. Mandatory & Highly-Recommended insurances

Insurance Type	Insurance Name	What it is
Health & Accident	Basic Health French: Assurance maladie German: Krankenversicherung	Covers medical treatment (except dental) & and medication prescribed by a doctor. Does not cover medical costs due to accidents.  Self participation: ("franchise" in french, "Selbstbehalt" in German): You'll have to pay a certain non-refundable self-participation part of any medical cost you incur. You can choose the level of self participation: the higher it is, the lower the monthly premium will be. Complementary: ("assurance complémentaire" in french, "Zusatzversicherung" in German): You can choose to get optional better coverage (such as private hospital room). Ask your agent about it.  When you just arrive in Switzerland: You have to take out a health insurance within 3 months after your arrival in Switzerland. Your employer may do this for you, but it is your responsibility to be insured.	Mandatory
	Personal Accident  French: Assurance accident German: Unfallversicherung  (UGV)	Covers a part of your salary in the event of an accident. It is organised by your employer and directly deducted from your salary. Additional cover is available to increase the percentage of your salary you would receive and for high salaries, but you will have to organise it by yourself (unless you have a generous employer!). Available, but not mandatory, for self-employed people / spouses taking care of the family at home.	Mandatory for all employees
Private Liability	Private liability (10% discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance responsabilité civile German: Privathaftpflicht-Versicherung	Cover for damage and bodily injury caused by you or a member of family (same home) to a 3rd party. Examples: - Damage you cause to your rented apt (a perfume bottle falls and chips the sink) - Damage caused to your neighbour’s window by your children’s football	Very highly recommanded (most apt owners will only rent to you after you have this insurance)
Household	Household contents (10% discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance ménage German: Hausrat oder Haushalt Versicherung	Covers your household content against damages caused by fire, theft at home, water. Examples: - Your washing machine spread water through your kitchen, destroying the floor and your appliances - Your house was broken into, and your electronic appliances were stolen	Highly recommanded
	Valuables French: Assurance objets de valeur German: Wertsachen-Versicherung	Covers your valuables (for example watches, jewelry, paints, music instruments) against damages caused by theft, loss, destruction, & damage.	According to your needs
	Building  (10% discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance bâtiment German: Gebäudeversicherung	If your are a home-owner, it covers your house against damages caused by water and fire	According to your needs
Car	3rd Party Liability (10% discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance responsabilité civile voiture German: Motorfahrzeug haftpflicht-Versicherung	Cover for damage & bodily injury caused by your vehicle to a 3rd party. Does not cover damages to your vehicle or body (see below on Car - comprehensive insurance)	Mandatory
	Car - comprehensive (15%-20%discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance casco German: Kasko-Versicherung	Cover for damages to your vehicle. 3 different cover-levels:    1. Partial comprehensive: covers your vehicle against theft, fire, natural hazards (ie falling ice, flooding, etc), glass breakage, collision with animals, & vandalism.  2. Fully comprehensive: covers same risks as partial comprehensive, plus damage to your own vehicle as a result of a collision.  3. Super comprehensive: covers same risks as fully comprehensive, plus additional risks of damage by martens, damage while parked, and luggage.  * Zurich Insurance's Help Point assistance: If your car is insured with Zurich Insurance, you get free support from Zurich's 27  'Help Points' across Switzerland (incl in Geneva & Zurich). In case of car issues, these Help Points handle all car reparations and insurance admin work for you, while you get a replacement car. It takes the pressure off finding a good garage, negotiating the price, and handling the insurance papers.	Highly recommanded
	Car - passenger personal accident (10% discount with Zurich Insurance) French: Assurance passager German: Unfallversicherung der Insassen	Pays indemnity in the event of death, disablement or temporary inability to work and pays hospital daily benefits during a stay in hospital, to you and/or your passengers.	Highly recommanded
Legal Protection	Civil law legal protection  French: Protection juridique German: Rechtschutz	Cover for legal expenses in case of legal claims by / against you in Switzerland. In many cases, just mentioning you have Legal Protection Insurance may get the opposing party to back off. Example: - A service provider worked on your apt, and demands more payment than agreed. You decide to take legal action (	Highly recommanded

 
2. Can I STOP or SWITCH my insurance at any time?
No, in principle. Insurance contracts are usually signed for a pre-agreed period stated in your contract, and may only be stopped - or switched to another insurer - when the contract expires. Exceptions exist, and your insurance agent can help you understand them. 3 major exceptions are worth noting:

• You can cancel all your insurance contracts when you leave Switzerland. You will be refunded for insurance time paid for but not used.

• You can cancel your car insurance contract when you sell your car. You will be refunded for insurance time paid for but not used.

• You can switch health insurance each year, if you cancel your contract by November 30. Thus, around November each year, your health insurer will usually contact you, and ask you to confirm if you'd like to stop your insurance contract. If you do not ask to stop your health insurance by November 30, your health insurer will remain the same for another 12 months.  

For more free advice in English about insurance & financial products contact the folks at Zurich Insurance