If you work in Switzerland for at least eight hours a week for the same employer, you can exclude accident cover from your health insurance and often save up to 7 % on your basic insurance premium. Employees meeting these conditions are already insured through their employer against accidents at work and during leisure time.
Yet some policyholders continue to pay a health insurance premium including accident cover even though they do not need this additional protection.
This guide explains when you can exclude accident cover, how much you can save and what to consider when working part time, becoming unemployed or changing jobs.
Accident cover at a glance
- From 8 hours a week with the same employer, you are generally also insured against accidents during leisure time.
- Premium savings of up to 7 % are available from many health insurers.
- No loss of accident protection: your employer’s compulsory accident insurance provides the cover.
- Written application: your health insurer does not exclude accident cover automatically.
- Possible at any time: accident cover can be suspended from the first day of the following month at the earliest.
- When your employment situation changes: if your UVG cover ends, you must inform your health insurer.
What does excluding accident cover from health insurance mean?
Compulsory health insurance in Switzerland generally covers both illnesses and accidents.
For people in employment, however, a separate accident insurance policy held by their employer often pays the costs of an accident.
If you already have full cover against occupational and non-occupational accidents under the Swiss Accident Insurance Act (UVG), you do not need the additional accident cover in your basic health insurance.
You can therefore ask your health insurer to suspend accident cover, meaning to exclude it temporarily.
Your basic insurance for illnesses remains unchanged. Only accident cover is suspended, and your premium is reduced accordingly.
The legal basis is Article 8 of the Health Insurance Act (KVG).
When can I exclude accident cover?
The deciding factor is whether you have full accident cover under the UVG.
The 8-hour rule in Switzerland
If you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer, compulsory insurance covers the following risks:
Occupational accidents: accidents that occur at work or in connection with your professional duties.
Non-occupational accidents: accidents outside work, for example during sports, hiking, at home or on holiday.
Apprentices, interns and employees paid by the hour can also benefit from this rule if they meet the conditions.
If you work fewer than eight hours a week for the same employer, you are generally insured only against occupational accidents and occupational diseases.
You then still need accident cover in your basic health insurance for accidents during leisure time.
Who can exclude accident cover?
| Personal situation | Exclude accidents from health insurance? |
|---|---|
| Employed full time | Yes |
| Part time, 20 hours a week | Yes |
| Part time, exactly 8 hours a week | Yes |
| Part time, 5 hours a week | No |
| Apprentices working at least 8 hours a week | Yes |
| Unemployed and entitled to unemployment benefits | Generally yes |
| Self-employed without corresponding UVG cover | No |
| Students without qualifying employment | No |
| Children | No |
| Pensioners without qualifying employment | No |
The table shows typical cases. What always matters is whether full UVG cover actually exists.
How much can I save by excluding accident cover?
Many health insurers offer a premium discount of up to 7 % when accident cover is excluded.
Your actual savings depend on your insurer and your current premium.
Examples of premium savings
| Monthly premium including accidents | Monthly savings at 7 % | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 300 | CHF 21 | CHF 252 |
| CHF 400 | CHF 28 | CHF 336 |
| CHF 500 | CHF 35 | CHF 420 |
| CHF 600 | CHF 42 | CHF 504 |
| CHF 700 | CHF 49 | CHF 588 |
With a monthly basic insurance premium of CHF 500 and a 7 % discount, for example, you save CHF 35 a month or CHF 420 a year.
These savings are independent of your deductible. You can also exclude accident cover if you already have a high deductible or a cheaper family doctor, HMO or Telmed model.
Accident cover is therefore another opportunity to reduce your health insurance premiums.
Excluding accident cover: step-by-step guide
Excluding accident cover is straightforward and does not require changing health insurers.
1. Check your cover with your employer
First check whether you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer and have full UVG cover.
If you are unsure, ask your HR department or your employer.
If necessary, request confirmation that you are insured against both occupational and non-occupational accidents.
2. Contact your health insurer
Tell your health insurer that you want to exclude accident cover from your compulsory basic insurance.
Many health insurers offer a form, a customer portal or a corresponding feature in their app.
Alternatively, you can submit a written request.
3. Submit proof of accident insurance
Your health insurer may require confirmation of your full UVG cover.
Suitable documents include an employer’s confirmation or corresponding proof of insurance.
4. Check your new premium
After reviewing your request, your health insurer confirms the exclusion of accident cover.
Suspension begins on the first day of the month following your request at the earliest.
Then check your updated insurance policy and your new monthly premium.
Template: exclude accident cover from your health insurance
You can use the following sample letter for your request.
Subject: Request to suspend accident cover in basic insurance
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby request the suspension of accident cover in my compulsory health insurance at the earliest possible date under Article 8 KVG.
I work at least eight hours a week for my employer and am therefore insured against occupational and non-occupational accidents under the UVG.
My insurance number is: [Insurance number].
Please confirm this change in writing and inform me of my new health insurance premium.
I will gladly provide confirmation of my existing accident insurance from my employer if required.
Yours faithfully,
[First name Surname]
[Address]
What happens if I have an accident?
If you have excluded accident cover from your health insurance and have full UVG cover through your employer, their accident insurer generally provides the statutory benefits following an accident.
This applies to accidents both at work and during leisure time.
What benefits does your employer’s accident insurance provide?
Compulsory accident insurance under the UVG provides benefits including:
- Medically necessary treatment following an accident
- Hospital treatment within the statutory cover
- Certain rescue and transport costs
- Daily allowances for accident-related inability to work
- Disability and survivors’ pensions under certain conditions
An important difference from basic health insurance is that treatment billed to UVG accident insurance generally involves no deductible or co-payment.
If your health insurer pays for accident treatment instead, the same cost-sharing rules normally apply as for an illness.
Important: for employees with full UVG cover, excluding accident cover therefore does not mean giving up accident protection.
Accident insurance for part-time work: take care with multiple employers
Your insurance situation can be more complicated, particularly if you work part time.
The statutory eight-hour threshold generally applies per employer.
Example: two part-time jobs of five hours each
Suppose you work five hours a week for each of two different employers.
That adds up to ten working hours. However, neither employer provides compulsory non-occupational accident cover, as you work fewer than eight hours for each.
You therefore still need accident cover in your basic health insurance.
Example: two part-time jobs of ten and five hours
You work ten hours a week for employer A and five hours for employer B.
In this case, employer A also provides compulsory non-occupational accident cover.
You can therefore generally exclude accident cover from your health insurance.
If your working hours are irregular, ask your employer to confirm whether you meet the statutory minimum for non-occupational accident insurance.
What happens when you change jobs or become unemployed?
If you change jobs or stop working, your accident cover may change.
Whenever your employment situation changes, check whether you remain insured against accidents during leisure time.
The 31-day extended cover
After compulsory non-occupational accident cover ends, protection generally continues for another 31 days.
This period starts after the day on which your entitlement to at least half your salary ends.
If you start a new job with full UVG cover within this period, accident protection normally continues without interruption.
What is interim accident insurance?
If there is a longer gap between jobs or you plan to take unpaid leave, you can take out interim accident insurance, known as Abredeversicherung, under certain conditions.
It extends your existing non-occupational accident cover by up to six additional months.
Interim accident insurance must be taken out and paid for before your existing UVG cover expires.
One advantage is that covered accident treatment continues to involve no deductible or co-payment.
Am I insured against accidents when unemployed?
If you are entitled to unemployment benefits, you are generally insured against accidents with Suva.
In this case, you can generally keep accident cover suspended in your basic health insurance.
If you are not entitled to unemployment benefits and have no other full UVG cover, you must include accident cover in your health insurance again.
When must I include accident cover again?
You must inform your health insurer when your full UVG cover ends.
Examples include the following situations:
- You stop working.
- Your working hours drop below eight hours a week.
- You become self-employed and no longer have corresponding UVG cover.
- You retire.
- Your entitlement to unemployment benefits ends without you starting a new job with corresponding cover.
Under Article 8 KVG, accident cover in basic health insurance resumes as soon as UVG cover ends fully or partially.
You must still inform your health insurer in good time. If you fail to make the required notification, the insurer may claim the accident-cover portion of the premium retrospectively, together with late-payment interest.
Report employment changes as early as possible and obtain confirmation of the adjustment to your insurance.
Exclude accident cover and change health insurers
If you plan to change your basic insurance anyway, check whether the premium shown by your new health insurer includes accident cover.
Many premium comparison tools offer a separate option for this.
Use the same setting for every offer you compare. Otherwise, you may be comparing premiums with different accident cover.
Changing health insurers, together with a suitable deductible and a cheaper insurance model, can provide additional savings.
Further reading: Switching health insurer in 2027: deadlines, cancellation and steps
Compare health insurance premiums: on K-Check you can compare premiums for where you live and see which offer suits your situation.
Frequently asked questions about accident cover in health insurance
Is accident insurance through your employer compulsory?
Yes. Employees in Switzerland generally have compulsory insurance against occupational accidents and occupational diseases. From at least eight hours a week with the same employer, compulsory non-occupational accident cover is added.
Can I exclude accident cover from my health insurance at any time?
Yes, provided you have full accident cover under the UVG. Suspension is on request and starts on the first day of the following month at the earliest. You do not need to wait until the end of the year.
How much cheaper is health insurance without accident cover?
Many insurers offer a discount of up to 7 %. With a monthly premium of CHF 500, that means CHF 35 a month or CHF 420 a year, for example, if the full discount is granted.
Am I insured against leisure accidents if I work at 20 %?
That depends on your actual weekly working hours. Your employment percentage alone is not decisive: what matters is whether you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer. Irregular hours may require a closer check.
Do I have to request the exclusion of accident cover myself?
Yes. Accident cover is not excluded automatically when you start a new job. You must apply to your health insurer and, if necessary, provide proof of your UVG cover.
Are children covered by their parents’ accident insurance?
No, an employer’s compulsory accident insurance does not automatically extend to the insured person’s children. Children normally need their own accident cover as part of basic health insurance.
Do pensioners need accident cover?
Yes, unless they have full UVG cover elsewhere. On retirement, existing compulsory accident insurance ends after the applicable extended-cover period if there is no other cover.
Am I insured if I have an accident abroad?
Compulsory accident insurance under the UVG generally also provides protection abroad. However, the costs covered and conditions vary by destination. Additional travel insurance may be useful, particularly for expensive private clinics or rescue costs.
What happens if I forget to include accident cover again?
Accident protection in basic health insurance resumes by law as soon as UVG cover ends fully or partially. However, you must inform your health insurer of the change. Otherwise, unpaid premium portions may be claimed together with late-payment interest.
What is the difference between accident insurance and accident cover?
Accident insurance often means a separate UVG insurance policy, for example through your employer. Accident cover from your health insurer is instead part of compulsory basic insurance and covers accidents where no higher-priority accident insurance pays.
Conclusion: exclude accident cover and save on health insurance premiums
If you work in Switzerland for at least eight hours a week for the same employer, you generally already have full cover against accidents at work and during leisure time.
You can therefore normally exclude the additional accident cover in your basic health insurance.
With many health insurers, this can save up to 7 % on premiums while retaining the existing protection through your employer.
You must meet the conditions and report employment changes in good time.
Our tip: when you next compare health insurance, check not only the deductible and insurance model but also the accident-cover setting. This helps you avoid unnecessary premiums and find basic insurance that suits your personal situation.
Compare health insurance premiums for 2027 on K-Check now.
Sources
- Federal Office of Public Health – Suspension of accident cover
- Federal Office of Public Health – Who has compulsory accident insurance?
- Priminfo – Saving on health insurance
- Suva – Cover when your employment situation changes
- Suva – Interim accident insurance
- Federal SME portal – Occupational and non-occupational accident insurance
- Helsana – Questions about health insurance and accident cover