Accident insurance
In a nutshell
As a Novartis employee in Switzerland, you are covered by basic insurance with SUVA in accordance with the Federal Law on Accident Insurance (UVG).
- According to the Accident Insurance Act (UVG), all employees in Switzerland are compulsorily insured against accidents and occupational illnesses by their employer.
- Anyone who works at least eight hours a week for the same company is also insured against non-occupational accidents (NBU).
- These individuals are then compulsorily insured with Suva if their employer operates within the area of responsibility of Suva. The activities carried out in the companies are decisive here.
- Companies that do not fall within the jurisdiction of Suva can insure their employees with another accident insurer.
Please note: The term "accident" is defined by law.
The term "accident" is defined in the law on the general part of social insurance law (ATSG). An accident is
- sudden,
- unintentional harmful effect
- of an unusual external factor
- on the human body,
- which results in an impairment of physical, mental or psychological health or death.
All of the above criteria must be met for accident insurance to apply – otherwise, by definition, it is a case for health insurance or daily sickness benefit insurance.
Examples of accidents
Typical examples of accidents are as follows:
Stumbling on stairs and tearing a meniscus
While moving house, sporty Simon is carrying a box up to the second floor when he unexpectedly trips over the bottom step. He tears his meniscus in the process. This is an accident, as Simon has suddenly sustained an injury due to an unusual external factor (box + step).
Cut thumb
Sophie is working on a building site and cuts her thumb with a jigsaw. This is an accident, as Sophie suddenly cut her thumb with the jigsaw.
Insect or tick bite
While working in the garden, Johann accidentally reaches into a bee nest and is stung in the face by the angry bees. His eye swells up and he is unable to work for a few days. Insect bites and tick bites are considered accidents.
Examples of "not an accident"
There are also cases that are very similar to those described above, but which are not considered accidents because one of the necessary aspects of the accident definition is missing.
Suva always checks whether a reported event constitutes an accident. In doing so, we adhere to the Federal Law on the General Part of the Social Insurance Law (ATSG), the Accident Insurance Law (UVG), the Health Insurance Law (KVG) and the corresponding ordinances.
The following cases are examples of events that are not considered accidents. These cases are covered by health insurance:
Tinnitus after a concert
Kathrin has been suffering from an extreme ringing in her ears since attending a rock concert. The accident insurance company's negative decision is due to the lack of the factor of "suddenness", because Kathrin was exposed to loud music over a long period of time. The situation is different, for example, if Leo suffers tinnitus because he was standing very close to the train driver before his train left and the driver blew his whistle loudly into his ear.
"Lumbago" when lifting a crate
In the case of Ernesto, who is lifting a heavy crate at the construction site and suddenly feels a sharp pain in his back, there is again no unusual external factor. Lifting heavy crates is part of the normal activities of a construction worker. If, on the other hand, he slipped and fell on the wet ground, this would be an unusual external factor that led to the accident and the accident insurance would pay out.
Deliberate cutting of the skin
An example of intentional bodily harm is the case of Nadia, who cuts her skin with a sharp object. If you intentionally injure yourself, it is not an accident and must be paid for by your health insurance. This is in contrast to an unintentional cut to the finger while cooking or cutting flowers.
Damage to teeth after eating a cake
Thomas bites into the cake and a piece of his tooth breaks off. This is also not an accident by definition. It is clear that there is a foreign body in the cake. Therefore, it is nothing unusual and one should be careful when chewing. However, if you bite into a cherry stone in a purchased cherry cake, this is considered an accident. You don't have to expect to find a cherry stone in a cake.
Accident insurance law - benefits (suva.ch)
Check your personal accident coverage
Treatment costs (care services and cost reimbursements)
You are insured by SUVA accident insurance for the costs of treatment, accommodation and meals in the general ward during hospital stays. If you have insurance for semi-private or private ward with your health insurance company, the accident risk is usually included there. However, it is advisable to check this. In the event of an accident abroad, the accident insurance benefits are limited: at most, only twice the amount of the costs that would have been incurred for treatment in Switzerland will be reimbursed. It is advisable to take out additional insurance, e.g. when traveling to the USA, Canada and Australia. Travel, transport, salvage and rescue costs in case of medical necessity are also insured abroad to a limited amount. Additional insurance can also help here. At SWICA, for example, this would be the accident supplement "Infortuna Healing Costs Supplementary Insurance".
Does the insurance continue to pay despite termination?
"I had an accident. I am currently unable to work and receive daily allowances from the Company Accident Insurance. Now I would like to resign from my job. Will I continue to receive daily accident benefits after my employment ends?"
Yes, according to the law, the entitlement to daily benefits from accident insurance only expires when the insured person regains full capacity for work, when a pension begins or when the insured person dies. Termination of the employment relationship does not change this - regardless of whether the employer or the employee gives notice. You will therefore continue to receive daily accident benefits until you are fully able to work again or receive a disability pension.
2010_D_Original_de_21071.pdf (german only)
Report an accident as soon as possible
Please report an accident via the Novartis Intranet here: UKA Send (novartis.intra)
Or via SunetLight | Suva
SUVA requests for cost credits
SUVA Basel Phone +41 58 411 12 13, E-Mail: suva.mitte@suva.ch, Client-number: 412-8036.0
Do not forget
Clarify whether you have taken out supplementary accident insurance (usually your supplementary health insurance) and inform the service provider with the corresponding insurance number.
Accident abroad, Emergency?
If you are abroad and need help, +41 848 724 144 Assistance Immediate Help