*Please note that this is not a binding offer. The premium increases annually in line with the risk.
The Müller family of four have just bought their dream home and have made major financial commitments. Their income is heavily dependent on Philipp Müller's full-time salary. That's why he takes out whole life insurance. When he dies two years later in a motorcycle accident, the family can stay in their home thanks to the capital paid out.
Sophie and Max live together without a marriage certificate. Because they are poorly insured by law, they protect each other with private death insurance. When Sophie is diagnosed with cancer, the insurance gives her peace of mind: Should the illness prove fatal, Max is at least well covered and can cope with the financial obligations on his own.
Markus Weber has founded a limited company and is its managing director. As the creative head of the company, he is an indispensable key person. When he suffers a heart attack, he thinks hard about his life. He is relieved that he took out death insurance when he founded the limited company. Thanks to the agreed capital, the company would still have a future without him.
Maja and Jonas Eggenberger are very much looking forward to their first child. But serious complications arise during the birth and Maja dies. Jonas is left with the newborn. How can he look after the baby and earn a living for the family at the same time? Then he remembers that Maja has taken out a death benefit insurance policy. It will help him financially during the first difficult period.
Term life insurance pays an agreed sum of money to the beneficiaries if the insured person dies. This makes it possible, for example, to provide financial protection for cohabiting partners, who are less protected by law than married couples. Families can prevent financial hardship and ensure that they can remain in their own home even after a stroke of fate.
Within the framework of the unrestricted pension provision (pillar 3b), you can designate any person you wish to protect, regardless of the legal order of succession. This can also be a cohabiting partner. With the restricted pension provision (pillar 3a), many rules are set by law and your flexibility is limited.
With term life insurance, you determine an insured insured (insurance amount) that will be paid out if something happens to you. This way, you can protect your family and children from the financial consequences of a misfortune and ensure, for example, that your family can continue living in their familiar environment.
Whether benefits are paid out from the first and/or second pillar after a death depends on various factors. Even if benefits are paid from both pillars, they are usually noticeably lower than the previous income. With term life insurance, you can close this gap – such that, in the event of the worst, financial worries do not add to emotional pain. An individual consultation is worthwhile.
Yes, you will most likely need term life insurance. In a cohabiting partnership, you are less protected than married couples. If something happens to you, your cohabiting partner has no legal claim to a share of your inheritance. In addition, they do not receive any benefits from AHV. The pension fund also only pays under certain conditions. Private protection through term life insurance is therefore all the more important.
With a life insurance policy, you can designate your partner as the beneficiary. In the event of death, your partner receives the agreed capital directly – regardless of the legal succession. This ensures your partner is financially protected, even if the law provides no protection.
Learn more about your options and the current regulations regarding inheritance in Switzerland in our guide:
Inheritance law in Switzerland: More freedom in estate planning
Term life insurance can make sense if your partner or family members are financially dependent on you. If something should happen to you, the agreed death benefit will be paid out. This protects against financial difficulties and allows your dependents to reorganize their lives. If you own residential property, you can, for example, ensure that your family can continue living in their accustomed home, as the property remains financially manageable.
You can determine the duration of a term life insurance policy yourself. Normally, it is taken out until retirement age, so that pension gaps can be optimally prevented. However, there are also cases where a shorter term makes sense, for example, until the children have finished their education.
It depends: If you take out the insurance within pillar 3a, you can deduct the premiums fully from your taxable income, up to the maximum amount of CHF 7,258 (as of 2025). In pillar 3b, premiums are usually not deductible.
3a:
Pillar 3a is suitable if you want to take advantage of tax benefits. Contributions can be deducted from taxable income up to the legal maximum.
3b:
Pillar 3b offers maximum flexibility, e.g. free choice of beneficiaries (e.g. cohabiting partner or business partner) or flexible contract duration.
No tax deductions are possible, but in the event of death, payments are generally tax-free, provided certain conditions are met.
Both options are available: You can choose a sum that remains the same throughout the contract, e.g. CHF 200,000. Or you can decide that the sum decreases each year. For example, you start with a death benefit of CHF 200,000, which decreases by CHF 10,000 each year. It is important to choose a solution that suits your needs: For example, if you want to cover a mortgage or your children’s education, a decreasing death benefit may be appropriate. To protect a partner, a constant benefit is often the better solution.
With a joint term life insurance, two people can protect each other within a single contract. If one of the two persons dies during the contract term, the other person receives the agreed capital. The contract then ends.
In short:
With these privileges, you ensure your loved ones receive the insurance benefit – securely and without delays caused by inheritance proceedings or existing debts.
