Accident insurance.
In simple terms.

At work, on the way home, in the outdoor swimming pool, on a hiking trip... Accidents happen everywhere and when you least expect them. With accident insurance, at least you don’t have to suffer the financial consequences. This is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland. 

However, some people aren’t sure whether they are subject to the UVG obligation (mandatory accident insurance via their employer), or whether they need to take out accident cover as part of their health insurance. And which benefits does compulsory accident insurance offer anyway? Read on for the most important information. 

The rules on compulsory accident insurance differ depending on whether you have a full-time job, a part-time job, are self-employed, unemployed, studying or retired. This sounds complicated, but in actual fact it isn’t.

Employed in Switzerland? Then you have compulsory insurance under the UVG – the Federal Accident Insurance Act – via your employer. To be more precise: you are covered for occupational accidents. You are also insured for non-occupational accidents if you work for the same employer for at least eight hours per week.

Unemployed? In this case, you are also insured under the UVG, but only if you meet the requirements for receiving unemployment benefits. The premiums for accident insurance are deducted from your unemployment benefits.

Giving up your job to take a sabbatical or because your employment relationship has been terminated, for example? There’s no need to worry. Compulsory insurance cover for non-occupational accidents does not end until 31 days after your entitlement to at least 50% of your salary lapses – i.e. usually around one month after you leave your job.

If you would like to extend your insurance for non-occupational accidents for up to a further six months, then interim accident insurance is the solution. This can be taken out whenever your working hours fall below eight hours per week.

Self-employed? Then the UVG obligation does not apply to you. Nor does it apply to any family members who are not receiving a salary and are not paying AHV contributions. However, you can take out UVG accident insurance voluntarily. If you choose not to, then you must include accident cover in your health insurance. However, this does not provide benefits for loss of earnings.

In this case, we recommend that you also take out additional private accident insurance. That way, you and your loved ones can be sure that you are adequately insured in the event of an accident.

Do you work as a home help, a caretaker, a childminder or a cleaner? In this case, your employer is obliged under the UVG to take out accident insurance for you – against occupational accidents and, if you work for the same employer for at least eight hours a week, against non-occupational accidents as well.

Are you a student and not working? Then you are not subject to the UVG obligation. However, you must insure yourself against accidents via your compulsory health insurance – from a health insurer such as our partners Sanitas, SWICA and Groupe Mutuel.

About to retire and asking yourself the question: do pensioners need accident insurance? Since you are no longer subject to the UVG obligation after your retirement, you must take out accident insurance via your compulsory health insurance – like other people who are not in employment. The statutory cover can be supplemented with private accident insurance.

Work part-time or doing an internship? In this case, your employer is obliged to insure you against accidents under the UVG. However, if you work for the same employer for fewer than eight hours per week, you are only insured against occupational accidents. Non-occupational accidents are covered by your compulsory health insurance.

Are you a homemaker who is not working for an employer? Then you are not subject to the UVG obligation. To ensure that you are covered against accidents, you must take out accident insurance via your compulsory health insurance.

Are you an employee and currently on maternity leave? Then you are still insured against accidents via your employer under the UVG.

Children are insured against accidents via their compulsory health insurance. For optimal protection against the financial consequences of an accident suffered by your child, it is advisable to take out private accident insurance or children’s insurance as well.

It’s quite simple: in compulsory accident insurance, the employer pays the premium. However, they may deduct the premium for non-occupational accident insurance from the insured employee’s salary. As a self-employed person who has taken out voluntary insurance, you pay the UVG premium yourself. The same goes for people who have accident cover via their health insurance.