Accident abroad - what does compulsory accident insurance cover?

Employees in Switzerland are insured under the Federal Law on Accident Insurance (UVG) against occupational accidents and - if they work at least eight hours a week for the same employer - also against non-occupational accidents. The cover applies worldwide. If you leave your job or take a longer break, you should note that insurance cover ends no later than 31 days after the last day on which you are entitled to at least half your salary. In these cases, it is possible to extend the insurance cover by up to six months by means of so-called interim insurance - a sensible measure for sabbaticals or longer trips. Unemployed persons are also insured against non-occupational accidents as long as they are registered with unemployment insurance and fulfil the requirements for receiving unemployment benefits.

If an accident occurs abroad, the benefits are generally comparable to those in Switzerland. Cash benefits such as daily allowances, disability or survivors' pensions as well as disability and helplessness allowances are also payable if the incident occurred in another country.

The situation is different for medical expenses. In countries with which Switzerland has concluded a social insurance agreement - such as the EU and EFTA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) as well as Turkey, Macedonia or Serbia - costs are covered in accordance with the legislation of the country in question. This means that anyone receiving treatment in one of these countries generally receives care that meets the local standard and is covered by the insurance. The situation is different in countries without an agreement, such as the USA, Thailand or South Africa, where the costs are limited to twice the amount that would have been incurred for comparable treatment in Switzerland. What initially sounds generous can in practice lead to considerable gaps in cover - especially for stays in private clinics or complex operations.

Repatriation and transport are also only covered if there is a medical necessity. In such cases, accident insurance contributes to the costs, but only up to a statutory maximum limit. This is currently CHF 29,640, and further travelling and transport costs are reimbursed if justified by family circumstances. However, if you wish to be brought back to Switzerland for organisational or personal reasons, you will generally have to bear these expenses yourself. The same applies to the necessary rescue and recovery costs; here, too, there is currently a limit of CHF 29,640.

Anyone who wants more - such as guaranteed repatriation to Switzerland, free choice of doctor or private medical treatment - must take out private insurance. Many health insurance companies offer corresponding supplementary insurance, and travel insurance can also provide benefits. Such offers generally also cover the costs if the accident insurance does not pay or only partially pays.

Compulsory accident insurance offers basic protection abroad, but in many cases this is not enough. Checking your insurance cover in advance - and taking out supplementary insurance if necessary - can protect you from unpleasant surprises.