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Mandatory accident insurance is a type of occupational accident insurance. It covers costs that arise due to occupational and non-occupational accidents and occupational diseases. The principles of mandatory accident insurance are based on the Accident Insurance Act, which clearly defines the insurance coverage and benefits.
Under the Accident Insurance Act, employers are required to insure their employees against the consequences of an occupational accident and to report any such accidents to the accident insurance provider without delay. Non-occupational accident insurance is also required for any employees who work at least eight hours per week.
Any accident that occurs while someone is doing their job or on a break at work or immediately before or after their working hours is regarded as an occupational accident. Any disease that is mainly attributable to a person’s job – e.g. as a result of inhaling harmful substances – is regarded as an occupational disease. Accidents during free time while taking part in sports, at home or in traffic are regarded as non-occupational accidents.
Whether your company employs people full-time or part-time, whether you have interns, trainees or people who help you with your work in your own home, accident insurance is a legal requirement for all staff. Coverage begins on the first day of employment, i.e. the first time the employee travels to work.
Even unemployed people are subject to mandatory accident insurance. But they are automatically covered by accident insurance for unemployed persons.
Good to know: If someone with more than one employer has an accident, they must clarify which employer’s accident insurance covers it. The deciding factor is where the person was last working before the accident and to what extent the insurance covers non-occupational accidents.
Mandatory accident insurance will step in even in the unhappy event that an accident occurs outside of Switzerland. This coverage gives your employees solid basic protection, but there are two restrictions:
Especially for business trips to countries with costly healthcare systems, such as the US or Canada, it is advisable to take out additional insurance coverage. Supplemental accident insurance from AXA will give you the best coverage possible.
Remember that a payment guarantee from the accident insurer is generally required for treatment abroad following an accident. This allows foreign treatment providers to ensure that the treatment costs incurred will be covered in each individual case.
In such cases, the Accident Card from AXA can help you out: You and your staff can reach AXA round the clock at the telephone numbers listed and receive immediate preauthorization for basic coverage. Your staff are thus well protected at all times while abroad and will receive rapid assistance should the worst happen.
Employers are liable for the entire premium and bear the share of it that covers occupational accidents and diseases. As a rule, employees bear the share for non-occupational accidents via a salary deduction.
If a collective bargaining agreement exists, then in many cases the employer must pay for half of the premiums for non-occupational accidents. For companies that do not have a collective bargaining agreement, the employer can decide whether they would like to help pay for some of the costs.
Accident insurance covers accidents and occupational diseases. Non-occupational diseases are in principle covered by employees’ health insurance. For the insurer to accept an accident report and pay out, the accident in question must involve an unusual, unintended and sudden effect on the human body from an external factor.
Yes. Employees are covered by mandatory insurance against occupational accidents and occupational diseases, whatever their working hours. This includes the journey to and from work from leaving home until returning directly home.
