Feather

What Feather is

Feather is a digital insurance brand that sells its own branded policies online while a separate insurer carries the risk. Its Swiss page states the arrangement in two lines: "Feather is a brand of Popsure Deutschland GmbH, officially registered with the German insurance brokers' register under registration number D-E6HJ-UVL9S-62," and "Your policy is backed by BarmeniaGothaer, a German insurance group with nearly 120 years of experience." The Portugal page describes Feather as "an independent private insurer with no government affiliation" and says its policies "are underwritten by a licensed insurer authorised to operate in Portugal", without naming that insurer. So the reader is buying through a registered broker, and the claim is backed by the underwriter.

The about page says Feather was founded in 2018 by Rob Schumacher and Vincent Audoire after both struggled with the insurance system in Germany, that it has helped people from over 150 countries and that it runs a team of 60. Its German range covers public and private health, dental, liability, household, pet, life, legal and disability insurance. For this directory the relevant lines are expat health insurance in Portugal and international health insurance in Switzerland.

Portugal expat health: prices and cover

The Portugal page is built around visas. It says the policy is "Accepted for visa & residency", works for the consulate application, the AIMA residency appointment and as private cover on top of the public SNS system, and comes with signed and stamped proof of coverage. It names the D7, D8, D2, D6 family and Golden visas among those it serves. It lists "No limit to reimbursement" and says the visa minimum of "30,000 euros of coverage" is guaranteed, with inpatient and outpatient care, emergency cover, repatriation and pandemic cover, and says the policy is purchased "automatically for 5 years from date of entry to Portugal".

Prices are printed on the page. The FAQ calls the policy "one of the most affordable options at €72 per month" and says the basic price for dependents under 18 is the same 72 euros, with each family member holding their own policy under one account. On age, it says: "Feather covers expats up to age 75," and "The price for ages 65 to 75 is €258 per month." Dental treatment for new conditions needing pain relief, such as simple fillings, is covered up to €500 a year, while check-ups and cleaning are not.

The limits are stated just as plainly. "Pre-existing conditions are not covered under this policy." The maximum term is five years, counted from the first day in Portugal rather than from purchase. Claims are paid by reimbursement: the page says the buyer pays the doctor or clinic upfront, uploads photos of invoices and receipts in the Feather account, and the money goes to the buyer, not the provider. The policy is monthly and can be canceled at any time, with a full refund inside 14 days of purchase if no claim was made. No NIF, NISS or Portuguese address is needed to sign up, and US and UK cards are accepted.

The page says there are "No waiting periods like with local insurers" and that all treatments are available from day one. Feather's help center, describing its expat health plans in Basic cover and Premium cover, sets some waiting periods. Basic cover includes no routine check-ups. Premium cover adds dental check-ups up to €200, cancer screening up to €300 a year, skin cancer screening and pregnancy check-ups, after a six-month waiting period. Both tiers cover acute pregnancy care, including premature delivery before the 36th week, but routine check-ups and delivery are Premium-only after six months, and an existing pregnancy at the start date is excluded for routine care. The help center also says that if a check-up is not covered, neither is "any treatment arising from the findings of that check-up". Its long-term expat product is a separate line, with medical check-ups up to €450 a year on the Basic plan and €750 on the Premium plan, and a check-up waiting period of 12 months for policies bought or renewed in 2025 and 6 months in 2026.

Switzerland: a supplement to mandatory cover

The Swiss page explains that every resident on any permit must buy basic insurance (LAMal or KVG) from a licensed insurer, such as CSS, Helsana, Swica or Sanitas, within three months of arriving, averaging CHF 429 (€465) per adult per month in 2026. Feather's international plans sit alongside that system. The page prints two tiers: Essential from €80.50 a month and Plus from €120.75 a month, both with outpatient, dental, mental health and maternity cover, and a deductible choice of €0, €500 or €1,000 in its price estimator. It says the plans are "medically underwritten, so your health history matters", that they meet "the €30,000 Schengen minimum" and cover the three-month gap before basic insurance starts, for short-stay, residence, cross-border, retirement and student permits.

Buying takes "under 5 minutes" with "No paperwork, no medical exams," according to the page's step list. Buyers can see any licensed doctor in Switzerland with no referral or pre-approval, upload bills in the app, and are reimbursed to their bank account, with "Most claims are processed within two weeks." There is a one-year minimum term, then cancellation at any time.

Other products and support

Feather's German legal insurance covers personal, traffic, professional, home and criminal-defense disputes and excludes immigration, visa and residence-permit matters, preventive contract reviews and self-employed business activity. It requires living in Germany and being at least 18, carries a one-year minimum term and adds a partner for about €10 a month. Across the site, Feather offers English-speaking support, free consultations by video or WhatsApp, and a single online account for policies and claims. The Portugal page cites 100,000+ customers and 82,000+ claims processed; the Swiss page cites 4.8 out of 5 on over 2,500 reviews.

Who it suits

Feather fits a non-EU mover who needs visa-accepted health cover for Portugal or the gap before Swiss basic insurance, wants prices on the page and, in Portugal, monthly cancellation, and is comfortable with reimbursement claims made through an app. Its Portugal policy ends after five years in the country and excludes pre-existing conditions, and the page describes it as cover most expats keep for their first one to two years until they settle. Buyers over 75 fall outside the Portugal age limit.