Switzerland is not part of the EU. Your EHIC card is useless here. Healthcare costs are among the highest in the world, and a helicopter rescue in the Alps costs CHF 5,000–15,000 without coverage. Travel insurance for Switzerland is not optional.
The Number You Need to Know
A helicopter rescue costs more than 270 years of World Nomads Explorer coverage. A good one-week policy costs $25–60 per person. The math is simple.
Best Providers Compared
World Nomads Explorer (~$55/week): Our top pick for outdoor activities. Covers 200+ adventure sports including skiing, hiking above 2,000m, and paragliding. Mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation explicitly included. Can buy or extend mid-trip — unique among major providers.
Allianz Travel Plus (~$48/week): Best for trip cancellation. 100% reimbursement of prepaid non-refundable costs. Adventure sports require a paid add-on — essential if you're doing mountain activities.
AXA Schengen (~$35/week): Best budget option. Solid for city-focused trips without outdoor activities. Emergency medical €100,000 included. Mountain rescue not in base plan.
REGA Card (CHF 30/year): Not a full policy — but at CHF 30/year it waives all Swiss Air-Rescue costs. Add this to any policy if you spend time outdoors in Switzerland.
What to Look For
Always verify: explicit mountain rescue + helicopter evacuation, minimum $100,000 emergency medical, adventure sports coverage if skiing or hiking above 2,000m, 24/7 emergency phone number.
Our Recommendation
World Nomads Explorer + REGA Card. Total for a week: ~$85. Potential savings if something goes wrong: $50,000+. Leave a comment below if you have questions about your specific situation.
