One of the most common questions expats have when starting a Swiss job is: "Am I already insured, or do I need to buy something?" The answer is both. Some things are automatically handled by your employer through mandatory salary deductions. Others are entirely your responsibility — and you'll never hear about them unless you go looking.
This guide maps out the division of labor so you don't double-pay, don't miss a deadline, and don't get caught without coverage.
The key fact
What your employer handles
If you're an employee in Switzerland, the following are automatically deducted from your gross salary or paid by your employer directly. You'll see them as line items on your monthly Lohnabrechnung (payslip).
1. AHV / IV / EO — State social security
The Swiss equivalent of social security. AHV funds the state pension, IV covers disability, and EO covers loss-of-earnings during military or civil service. Employee and employer each pay 5.3% of gross salary (total 10.6%). There is no income cap.
Your employer handles registration and payments. You don't need to do anything.
2. ALV — Unemployment insurance
1.1% employee share on income up to CHF 148,200, plus 0.5% on the portion above ("solidarity tranche"). Matched by your employer. Funds up to 70–80% of your previous salary if you lose your job, for 200–520 days depending on age and contribution years.
3. BVG — 2nd pillar pension (Pensionskasse)
Your employer enrolls you in their chosen pension fund if you earn more than CHF 22,680/year from them. Contributions range from 7% to 18% of your insured salary depending on age, split at least 50/50 with the employer. Many employers contribute more than half as a benefit.
You'll receive an annual Pensionskassenausweis showing your balance, contribution levels, and projected retirement benefits. Keep it — you'll need it for tax returns and mortgage applications.
4. UVG — Accident insurance
All employers in Switzerland must insure their employees against accidents via Suva or a private insurer. There are two components:
- BU (Berufsunfall) — occupational accidents. Employer pays 100%.
- NBU (Nichtberufsunfall) — non-occupational accidents. Mandatory if you work 8+ hours/week. Employee pays 1–2.5% of gross salary.
UVG covers medical bills, 80% of lost salary, disability pensions, and survivor benefits following any accident. It kicks in from day one of employment.
5. KTG — Daily sickness benefits (often, not always)
Swiss law only requires employers to pay you during illness for a few weeks (depending on canton and seniority). Most employers buy collective daily sickness benefits insurance (Krankentaggeld, KTG) that pays 80% of your salary for up to 720 days if you're unable to work due to illness.
This is a valuable benefit but it's not legally mandatory. Ask HR whether your employer provides it and what the waiting period is. If not, consider buying individual cover.
6. Source tax (for B-permit holders)
Not insurance, but worth mentioning. If you hold a B-permit and earn under CHF 120,000/year, your employer also deducts income tax directly from each paycheck (Quellensteuer).
Check your payslip
What you must handle yourself
Everything below is your personal responsibility. Your employer will not arrange or pay for any of it, even if it's legally required.
1. KVG — Basic health insurance (MANDATORY)
This is the big one. You must sign up for Swiss basic health insurance within three months of arrival. Your employer is not involved at all. You choose the provider, pay the premiums directly, and handle claims yourself.
For most adults, expect to pay CHF 280–550 per month. This is not deducted from your salary — you receive an invoice from your insurer each month (or quarterly if you prefer).
2. Personal liability + household contents
Quasi-mandatory for anyone renting in Switzerland. Your employer doesn't provide these. Expect CHF 15–40/month for a bundled policy.
3. Motor vehicle insurance (if you drive)
If you own a car, you need mandatory liability (Motorhaftpflicht) before you can register it. Kasko coverage is optional. Employer plays no role.
4. Pillar 3a (optional but tax-advantaged)
Private retirement savings with tax benefits. You can deposit up to CHF 7,056 per year(2026 limit) and deduct the full amount from your taxable income. Your employer doesn't handle this — you open an account at a bank or insurer yourself.
5. Life insurance, legal protection, etc.
Any optional cover — life, disability top-ups, legal protection, supplementary health — is entirely your responsibility.
Side-by-side summary
| Insurance | Who arranges? | Who pays? |
|---|---|---|
| AHV/IV/EO | Employer | Employer + Employee (50/50) |
| ALV (unemployment) | Employer | Employer + Employee (50/50) |
| BVG (2nd pillar) | Employer | At least 50/50, often employer more |
| UVG (accidents) | Employer | Employer (BU), Employee (NBU) |
| KTG (sickness) | Employer (if offered) | Varies by contract |
| KVG (health) | You | You (100%) |
| Personal liability | You | You |
| Household contents | You | You |
| Motor vehicle | You (if you drive) | You |
| Pillar 3a | You (optional) | You |
Common confusion points
"My employer said I have health insurance"
They don't, unless it's an extremely rare private plan as a benefit. What they probably mean is: "You're covered by UVG for accidents, and you must buy KVG yourself for illness." These are two different things and UVG does not replace KVG.
"I have international health insurance from my home country"
Swiss law doesn't recognize foreign health insurance as a substitute for KVG, except in a few very narrow cases (posted workers, some cross-border commuters). If you're a normal expat on a B-permit, you must still buy KVG.
"Accident coverage on my KVG is double-paying"
Yes. If you work 8+ hours/week and are therefore covered by UVG, you should request to remove accident cover from your KVG policy (Unfalldeckung ausschliessen). This saves you around 7% on your monthly premium.
If you quit or get laid off
Self-employed? Read this
If you're self-employed, the division is very different. You arrange AHV/IV/EO yourself through the cantonal compensation office, you're not enrolled in BVG automatically (but you can opt in), and UVG doesn't apply — you need private accident cover or to keep it on your KVG. Self-employment is an entirely different insurance regime.
Next steps
Now that you know which insurances your employer handles, you can focus on the ones that are up to you. Start with KVG health insurance, then move on to personal liability and household contents.
Or take our free risk analysisto see what's already covered and what's still missing for your situation — it takes 5 minutes.