Accident insurance assumes the cost of medical treatment after an accident. It also pays a daily allowance (income allowance) in the event of temporary inability to work, or pension payments in the event of permanent inability to work and death.

All employees working in Switzerland are insured against accidents.

• If you work for eight hours or more per week for an employer, then you will be insured against occupational accidents and what are known as non-occupational accidents (accidents on the way to work and during your free time).
• If you work less than eight hours per week for an employer, then you will only be insured against occupational accidents and accidents on the way to work. You will have to take out accident insurance with the health insurance fund for accidents in your free time (e.g. in the home).
• Unemployed people who are entitled to unemployment benefit are compulsorily insured.

People who do not work, e.g. housewives and house husbands, children, students, pensioners and the unemployed who no longer receive benefits are not insured. It is compulsory for these people to take out accident insurance with the health insurance fund.

What to do in the event of an accident: immediately notify your employer or the health insurance fund of the accident. You can obtain the relevant form from your employer or from the health insurance fund.