Swiss Insurance Contract Act (ICA/VVG)

Subject matter

The ICA regulates, among other things, the pre-contractual duty of disclosure and the consequences of its breach, the insurer’s information duties, premium payment and default consequences, increase of risk, loss mitigation duties, and the maturity and limitation of claims.

2022 revision

Key changes: an ordinary termination right after three years also for the policyholder, a 14-day right of withdrawal, an extended limitation period from two to five years, a direct claim of the injured party in liability insurance, and electronic communication options.

Non-mandatory law for large risks

For professional policyholders the ICA allows extended freedom of contract; many protective provisions can be waived. Industrial wordings therefore regularly deviate from the statute – the policy wording is decisive.