What benefits does the compulsory accident insurance cover?

The compulsory accident insurance covers treatment costs such as doctor visits, hospital stays and physiotherapy. It also pays a daily allowance of 80 % of the insured salary in the event of incapacity for work (from the third day). In the case of disability you receive a pension, and in the event of death survivors' pensions are paid to the spouse (max. 80 %) and children (max. 70 %).

Why might I need voluntary accident insurance?

As a self-employed or non-working person, you are not automatically insured against accidents. You have to arrange appropriate cover yourself. Private accident insurance offers similar benefits to the compulsory accident insurance.

What does the health insurance (OKP) pay in case of an accident?

If you do not have accident insurance through an employer, the basic insurance (OKP) covers the costs of basic medical care after an accident. However, you have to pay the deductible and cost share under the OKP. Supplementary insurance can extend the cover of the OKP, e.g. for private hospital stays.

Can I exclude accident cover from my basic insurance?

If you work more than 8 hours per week for the same employer, the employer must insure you for occupational and non-occupational accidents on a compulsory basis. That is why you can exclude accident cover from your basic insurance (OKP). This reduces your monthly health insurance premiums. However, this option is only possible as long as the accident insurance through the employer exists. As soon as it ends, you have to include accident cover in your basic insurance again to avoid gaps.

Accident insurance in Switzerland

Q: Who is compulsorily insured against accidents in Switzerland?

All employees are insured against occupational accidents through their employer. Anyone employed for more than eight hours per week by the same employer also has this protection for non-occupational accidents. This insurance is organised by the employer. Self-employed people and those who work less than eight hours per week are not automatically insured and have to arrange their own cover.

Accident insurance Switzerland: Everything important at a glance!

Pink safety helmet on the floor with an injured person lying behind it

In Switzerland, accident insurance is an important part of the social security system and protects you against the financial consequences of accidents, whether at work or in your free time. Every employee is compulsorily insured against accidents, while self-employed and non-employed persons can take out voluntary accident insurance.

The insurance covers the costs of medical treatment, a certain amount of continued payment of wages and other benefits if you are no longer able to work due to an accident.

Accident insurance

Employed person

Person not in gainful employment

>8h per week with the same employer

<8h per week with the same employer

Non-occupational accident

Occupational accident

Basic insurance

Supplementary insurance

Voluntary accident insurance

Medical expenses, daily allowance, disability pension, survivors' pension

Medical costs

Deductible Excess

Daily allowance Medical expenses Other

Accident insurance is regulated by law and is divided into two main areas: compulsory accident insurance and voluntary accident insurance.

1. compulsory accident insurance

All employees in Switzerland are automatically insured against accidents by their employer. This insurance covers both occupational accidents (BU) and non-occupational accidents (NBU).

Occupational accidents (BU): These are accidents that occur during working hours or on the way to work. Employers are legally obliged to insure their employees against such accidents.
Non-occupational accidents (NBU): These accidents occur during leisure time, for example during sport or at home. Employees who work more than eight hours a week for the same employer are also insured against non-occupational accidents.

Benefits from compulsory accident insurance:

Healing costs: The insurance covers the costs of visits to the doctor, hospital stays, medication, physiotherapy and necessary aids.
Daily allowance: In the event of incapacity for work due to an accident, the insurance pays a daily allowance, which generally amounts to 80% of the insured salary from the 3rd day.
Invalidity pension: If an accident leads to a permanent impairment, you will receive a disability pension that partially compensates for the loss of income.
Survivors' pension: If the insured person dies as a result of an accident, the surviving dependants receive a pension (spouse max. 80% and children max. 70%).

2. voluntary accident insurance

Self-employed and non-employed persons are not automatically insured against accidents and must take out appropriate cover themselves. They can take out private accident insurance, which offers similar benefits to compulsory insurance.

Why voluntary accident insurance can make sense:

Coverage for leisure accidents: Even if you are not gainfully employed, leisure accidents can happen. Voluntary insurance protects you from high costs.
Supplementary benefits: Private accident insurance often offers additional benefits, such as higher daily allowances or better cover for special treatment methods.

3. accident insurance and compulsory health insurance (OKP)

If a person is not covered by compulsory accident insurance through an employer (e.g. self-employed persons or persons who work less than eight hours a week for the same employer), the compulsory health insurance (OKP) covers the costs of treatment following an accident.

Scope of OKP cover for accidents:

Primary medical care: The OKP covers the costs of medical treatment, hospital stays in the general ward, medication and necessary therapies, similar to an illness.
Cost sharing: In contrast to accident insurance, where there is no cost sharing (deductible and excess), insured persons must pay part of the costs themselves under OKP. This means that the deductible and excess are also payable in the event of an accident.
Supplementary insurance: Some supplementary insurances can extend the benefits of the OKP and, for example, cover inpatient treatment in a semi-private or private ward.

Important note:

If you have compulsory accident insurance through your employer, you can have accident cover excluded from your OKP. This reduces the health insurance premium.

However, this option only exists as long as the mandatory accident insurance is provided by the employer. As soon as this ends (e.g. in the event of termination or a change to marginal employment), the accident cover must be transferred back to the OKP in order to ensure seamless cover.

Summary:

Accident insurance in Switzerland ensures that you are comprehensively covered in the event of an accident, whether at work or in your free time. Employees are automatically insured by their employer, while the self-employed and those not in gainful employment can take out voluntary insurance.

The benefits include treatment costs, wage replacement in the event of incapacity for work and pensions in the event of disability or for survivors. For persons without compulsory accident insurance through their employer, the compulsory health insurance (OKP) covers the costs of treatment following an accident, albeit with cost sharing.

Why do you need accident insurance?

Accidents happen faster than you think and can be quite expensive. Here are a few good reasons why you should have accident insurance:

Financial security: You are covered against high costs for medical treatment.
Income replacement: You get money if you are unable to work.
Long-term support: In the event of permanent disability or death, there is financial support for you or your loved ones.

Frequently asked questions about accident insurance in Switzerland

1 Who is compulsorily insured against accidents in Switzerland?

All employees in Switzerland are automatically insured against accidents through their employer. This applies to both occupational accidents and non-occupational accidents if you work more than eight hours a week.

Self-employed and non-employed persons, on the other hand, must take out voluntary insurance.

2. What does compulsory accident insurance cover?

Compulsory accident insurance (UVG) covers medical costs following an accident, such as visits to the doctor, hospital stays, medication and physiotherapy, etc.

It also includes a daily allowance in the event of incapacity for work, disability pensions for permanent damage and survivors' pensions for dependants in the event of death.

3. What happens if I lose my job as an employee?

If you lose your job, your compulsory accident insurance usually ends after 30 days. You can take out interim insurance to extend this for up to six months.

Otherwise, you must include accident cover in your compulsory health insurance (OKP) again.

4. How am I insured against accidents as a self-employed or non-employed person?

Self-employed and non-employed persons are not automatically insured against accidents. You can either take out voluntary accident insurance or make sure that your compulsory health insurance (OKP) also covers accidents.

5. What is the difference between occupational accidents and non-occupational accidents?

Occupational accidents (OA) are accidents that occur at work or on the direct route to work. Non-occupational accidents (NOA) are accidents that occur in leisure time or during other activities outside of work. Employees who work more than eight hours a week for the same employer are insured against both types of accident.

6. can I have accident cover excluded from my health insurance?

Yes, if you have compulsory accident insurance through your employer, you can have accident cover excluded from your compulsory health insurance (OKP). This reduces your health insurance premiums. If your compulsory accident cover ends, you will have to re-insure accident cover under OKP.

7. How does the inclusion of accidents in compulsory health insurance (OKP) work?

If you are not covered by an employer's compulsory accident insurance (UVG), the OKP covers the costs of medical treatment following an accident. This includes visits to the doctor, hospital stays and medication.

However, the usual co-payments (deductible and excess) apply, in contrast to UVG, where these do not apply. It is important that people without UVG cover ensure that their OKP accident cover is activated in order to be adequately insured in the event of accidents.

8. What should I do if I have an accident?

If you have an accident, you should report it immediately to your employer (in the case of occupational accidents and non-occupational accidents) or your insurance company (OKP). It is important to keep all relevant documents such as medical reports and invoices in order to process the claim correctly.

Accident insurance Switzerland: Insure now and be protected!

Accident insurance in Switzerland is very important to protect you from the financial and health consequences of an accident.

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