When expats think about insurance in Czech Republic, they think about health insurance — because that's what the visa office requires. But health insurance is just the beginning. There are at least five other types of coverage that protect your finances, your family, and your belongings. Here's what you actually need, what each costs, and what you can skip.
1. Income Protection Insurance (The One Most Expats Miss)
This is the single most important insurance most expats don't have. If you get sick or injured and can't work, Czech social security (nemocenská) pays only 60–72% of a reduced calculation base — not your actual salary. For higher earners, the gap is enormous.
Real example: If you earn 100,000 CZK gross per month (~73,000 CZK net), Czech sick pay from day 15 onwards is roughly 38,000–42,000 CZK per month. That's a gap of over 30,000 CZK per month — and it starts from day one if you're a freelancer without voluntary sickness insurance.
Income protection insurance fills this gap. You choose a monthly benefit (typically 50–80% of your net income) and a waiting period (14, 30, or 60 days). The longer the waiting period, the cheaper the premium. Use our sick leave calculator to see exactly what social security would pay in your case.
Cost: 500–2,000 CZK/month depending on your salary and chosen coverage. For the protection it provides, this is one of the best-value insurance products available.
2. Property & Household Contents Insurance
If you own property: Your mortgage bank requires building insurance (pojištění nemovitosti). This covers the structure — walls, roof, pipes. Typical cost: 3,000–8,000 CZK/year depending on the property value.
If you rent: Your landlord's building insurance does NOT cover your stuff. If there's a fire, flood, or burglary, your laptop, furniture, clothing, and valuables are only protected if you have your own household contents insurance (pojištění domácnosti). Cost: 1,500–4,000 CZK/year — roughly 150 CZK/month for significant peace of mind.
3. Personal Liability Insurance
This covers situations where you accidentally damage someone else's property or cause injury. Your child breaks a neighbor's window. You spill coffee on a colleague's laptop. Your bathtub overflows and damages the apartment below. Without liability insurance, you pay everything out of pocket.
Cost: From just 300–800 CZK per year. It's so cheap there's really no reason not to have it.
4. Car Insurance
If you drive in Czechia, third-party liability insurance (povinné ručení) is legally mandatory. This covers damage you cause to others. Cost varies widely — from 3,000 to 15,000+ CZK/year depending on your car, age, and driving history.
For newer or more valuable vehicles, comprehensive insurance (havarijní pojištění) covers damage to your own car — from accidents, theft, vandalism, and natural events. Typical cost: 8,000–25,000+ CZK/year.
Tip for expats: Your no-claims bonus from your home country may be accepted by some Czech insurers. We know which ones and can help you transfer it — potentially saving thousands per year.
5. Life Insurance
If anyone depends on your income — a partner, children, elderly parents — life insurance ensures they're financially protected if something happens to you. Czech life insurance can also cover disability, critical illness, and hospitalization, making it more comprehensive than a simple death benefit.
Life insurance premiums are also tax-deductible up to 48,000 CZK/year (if the policy meets qualifying conditions), giving you a tax saving of 7,200–11,040 CZK annually.
6. Travel Insurance
Your Czech health insurance doesn't cover you abroad (except limited EHIC coverage in the EU). If you travel frequently — especially outside Europe — separate travel insurance is worth considering. Annual multi-trip policies typically cost 2,000–5,000 CZK/year and cover medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and evacuation.
What Can You Skip?
Extended warranty products: These are usually overpriced relative to the risk. Save the money and self-insure small electronics.
Duplicate health coverage: If you're employed and have Czech public health insurance, you generally don't need additional private health insurance unless you want access to private clinics or English-speaking doctors.
Investment-linked insurance: These hybrid products combine insurance with investment and are often expensive with poor returns. In most cases, keeping insurance and investments separate gives better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want a review of your current coverage?
We check your existing contracts and find gaps or savings. No obligation.
Let's TalkAbout the author: Nicolas Griss is the co-founder of Profi Expats, a CNB-registered financial advisory firm helping expats in Czech Republic since 2017.