Accident Insurance Switzerland (UVG/LAA) | What Expats Must Know

Key Facts — Accident Insurance (UVG/LAA) 2026

• Employees ≥8h/week: covered for work (BU) AND leisure (NBU) accidents through employer
• BU premium: paid by employer. NBU premium: deducted from your salary
• If covered by employer NBU: exclude accident from health insurance → save CHF 80–150/year
• After leaving a job: NBU coverage continues only 31 days (Nachdeckung)
• Gap insurance (Abredeversicherung): extends NBU up to 6 months between jobs

Quick check: Working 8+ hours/week? You can probably exclude accident from your KVG and save money. Get a free coverage check →

The Double-Payment Trap Most Expats Fall Into

Here’s a scenario we see constantly: An expat arrives in Switzerland, signs up for health insurance with accident coverage (the default), starts a full-time job — and is now paying for accident coverage twice.

Your employer’s UVG insurance already covers you for accidents. Your health insurance also includes accident coverage by default. You’re paying for both, and you only need one.

The fix takes 5 minutes: Contact your health insurer and exclude accident coverage (“Unfall ausschliessen”). Your monthly premium drops by CHF 7–15 immediately.

But there’s a catch — and it’s the part most people get wrong.

How Swiss Accident Insurance Actually Works

The Two Types: BU and NBU

BU — Berufsunfall (Occupational Accident)

• Covers: accidents at work, during work-related travel, on your direct commute
• Premium: 100% paid by your employer
• You don’t have to do anything — your employer arranges this

NBU — Nichtberufsunfall (Non-Occupational Accident)

• Covers: everything else — sports, weekends, holidays, accidents at home
• Premium: deducted from your salary (typically 1–2% of insured salary)
• Only if you work ≥8 hours/week for the same employer

The 8-Hour Rule

This is the critical threshold:

Weekly Hours	BU (Work)	NBU (Leisure)	Action Needed
≥8 hours/week	Employer covers	Employer covers	Exclude accident from KVG
<8 hours/week	Employer covers	NOT covered by employer	Keep accident in KVG
Self-employed	Not covered	Not covered	Keep accident in KVG
Unemployed (with RAV)	Via unemployment fund	Via unemployment fund	Exclude from KVG
Not employed	Not covered	Not covered	Keep accident in KVG

Common expat situations:

• Multiple part-time jobs: If none reaches 8 hours/week individually, you need accident in your KVG — even if total hours exceed 8
• Freelancers with a side job: If the employed portion is ≥8h/week, you’re covered for NBU. If not, keep accident in KVG
• Spouses not working: Must have accident coverage in KVG. This is often missed when one partner “optimizes” insurance for the family

What UVG Accident Insurance Covers

Medical Benefits

• All necessary medical treatment: doctor, hospital (general ward), medication, rehabilitation
• No franchise or co-pay — UVG covers from CHF 1
• Dental treatment for accident-related injuries
• Medical aids (crutches, braces, etc.)
• Transport costs (ambulance, helicopter rescue)

Income Replacement

• Daily allowance (Taggeld): 80% of your insured salary, starting from day 3
• Days 1–2: covered by your employer (typically at 100%)
• Paid until you can work again or a disability pension is granted
• Insured salary cap: CHF 148,200/year (2026). Earnings above this aren’t covered by UVG

Long-Term Benefits

• Disability pension: Up to 80% of insured salary for permanent disability
• Integrity compensation: Lump sum for permanent impairment (e.g., loss of function)
• Survivor pensions: For spouse and children in case of fatal accident

What’s NOT Covered

• Illness (that’s your health insurance)
• Self-inflicted injuries
• Injuries from fighting or criminal activity (may be reduced or denied)
• Extreme risk activities may have reduced benefits (e.g., illegal base jumping)

Important: UVG covers you better than basic health insurance for accidents — no franchise, no co-pay, 80% income replacement. This is why you want UVG as your primary accident coverage if you’re employed.

The 31-Day Gap: What Happens When You Leave Your Job

This is the “weekend gap” that catches most expats off guard.

When your employment ends:

• BU coverage: Stops immediately on your last working day
• NBU coverage: Continues for exactly 31 days after your last salary payment (Nachdeckung)

After 31 days, you have zero accident coverage unless you’ve taken action.

What to Do Before the 31 Days Are Up

Option 1: Start a new job If your new job starts within 31 days and it’s ≥8h/week, you’re covered seamlessly.

Option 2: Register with RAV (unemployment office) If you’re registered as unemployed and receiving benefits, accident insurance is included.

Option 3: Gap insurance (Abredeversicherung) You can extend your NBU coverage for up to 6 months by purchasing gap insurance from your former employer’s UVG insurer.

• Cost: roughly CHF 30–60/month
• Must apply before the 31-day period expires
• Your former employer or their HR department can arrange this

Option 4: Add accident back to your health insurance Contact your KVG insurer and add accident coverage back to your policy. This is the fallback if you miss the gap insurance window.

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: You resign in December, new job starts in February

• Last salary: December. NBU coverage ends: late January
• Gap: ~2 weeks in late January / early February
• Solution: Abredeversicherung or add accident to KVG temporarily

Scenario 2: You’re laid off and job hunting

• Register with RAV → covered through unemployment insurance
• If not eligible for RAV benefits → gap insurance or KVG accident coverage

Scenario 3: You leave Switzerland

• NBU continues 31 days after last salary
• If you’re still in Switzerland after that (winding down affairs, traveling): get gap insurance
• Once you de-register from Switzerland, Swiss insurance obligations end

How to Exclude Accident From Your Health Insurance

If you work ≥8 hours/week, follow these steps:

1. Confirm with your employer that you have NBU coverage (check your salary slip — you’ll see “NBU” deducted)
2. Contact your health insurer (phone, app, or online portal)
3. Request accident exclusion (“Unfall ausschliessen” / “exclure l’accident”)
4. Save CHF 80–150/year — the reduction takes effect from the next month or policy period

When to add it back:

• You reduce hours below 8/week
• You leave your job (do this IMMEDIATELY, don’t wait for the 31-day clock to expire)
• You become self-employed
• Your spouse stops working

UVG vs. KVG: Key Differences for Accidents

Feature	UVG (Employer)	KVG (Health Insurance)
Franchise	None	CHF 300–2,500
Co-pay	None	10% up to CHF 700
Income replacement	80% of salary	None
Dental (accident)	Covered	Limited
Insured salary cap	CHF 148,200	N/A
Who pays	Employer (BU) / Salary deduction (NBU)	You

Bottom line: UVG is significantly better than KVG for accident coverage. No franchise, no co-pay, plus income replacement. If you’re employed ≥8h/week, always use UVG as your accident coverage.

Supplementary Accident Insurance: Is It Worth It?

UVG has a salary cap of CHF 148,200. If you earn more than this, consider supplementary accident insurance (UVG-Zusatzversicherung):

What it adds:

• Income replacement on the portion of salary above CHF 148,200
• Private/semi-private hospital room instead of general ward
• Higher daily allowance (up to 100% of salary instead of 80%)
• Enhanced dental accident coverage

Who needs it:

• Anyone earning above CHF 148,200/year
• People who want private hospital rooms after accidents
• Executives and high-income professionals

Your employer may already provide supplementary accident insurance as a benefit — check your employment contract and benefits overview before buying your own.

FAQ

Q: I just started a new job. Do I need to do anything about accident insurance? Contact your health insurer and exclude accident coverage. That’s it. Your employer handles the UVG registration automatically.

Q: My partner doesn’t work. Are they covered by my employer’s UVG? No. UVG only covers the employed person. Your partner needs accident coverage through their own health insurance (KVG).

Q: What if I have an accident abroad during vacation? UVG covers accidents worldwide, but only medically necessary emergency treatment. For planned travel, consider supplementary travel insurance. Medical costs abroad are reimbursed at Swiss tariff rates — which may not cover the full bill in expensive countries.

Q: Does UVG cover skiing and hiking accidents? Yes, standard sports are covered. Extreme sports (hanggliding, bungee jumping, base jumping) may have reduced benefits. Professional sports are generally excluded from NBU.

Q: I work for multiple employers, each less than 8 hours. Am I covered? Only for BU (work accidents) at each employer. NBU (leisure accidents) is NOT covered if no single employer reaches the 8-hour threshold. Keep accident in your KVG.

Q: Can my employer refuse to provide NBU coverage? No. If you work ≥8h/week, NBU coverage is mandatory. Your employer cannot opt out, and neither can you. The premium is deducted from your salary automatically.

---

Related Guides

• Best Health Insurance Switzerland 2026
• Swiss Health Insurance Franchise: CHF 300 vs 2500
• Complete Guide to Swiss Health Insurance
• Legal Protection Insurance — From CHF 15/Month