Accident as a cross-border commuter
Cross-border commuters from Austria to Switzerland / Liechtenstein
Accident as a cross-border commuter
How are cross-border commuters in Switzerland / Liechtenstein insured in the event of an accident?
Cross-border commuters in Switzerland/Liechtenstein are insured under the Federal Law on Accident Insurance (UVG), in Switzerland mostly through SUVA (Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund), in Liechtenstein through private insurers. This applies to occupational accidents as well as non-occupational accidents, whereby in Switzerland/Liechtenstein the journey to work counts as a non-occupational accident.
In accordance with the Accident Insurance Act (UVG), all employees working in Switzerland / Liechtenstein are compulsorily insured against accidents and occupational illnesses.
Anyone who works at least 8 hours a week for the same employer is also insured against non-occupational accidents (NBU).
The employer pays the premium for occupational accidents, the employee pays the premium for non-occupational accidents.
Many companies also take out a supplementary policy with a private provider in Switzerland/Liechtenstein for all their employees, which enables semi-private/private treatment – possibly even worldwide.
An accident, regardless of whether it is a work accident (occupational accident) or a leisure accident (non-occupational accident), must be reported to the employer immediately.
Expert tip 1: Ask your employer how you are insured in the event of an accident as a new cross-border commuter in Switzerland / Liechtenstein, because you should know whether you are “only” insured under the UVG or whether your employer has taken out supplementary insurance for you. If so, you should of course also know the benefits of the supplementary insurance so that you can adapt your private accident insurance in Austria accordingly.
Expert tip 2: Your private accident insurance in Austria must be adapted to the new situation regardless of the insurance cover in Switzerland / Liechtenstein, as you are also insured for leisure accidents (non-occupational accidents) as a cross-border commuter, at least if you work at least 8 hours per week. The premiums for private accident insurance in Austria will become cheaper with the change, as certain benefits will no longer be required.
Expert tip 3: However, single payments in the event of disability should always be included in private accident insurance in Austria, as these are generally not insured in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
Expert tip 4: Talk to one of our cross-border commuter experts. We will be happy to advise you individually and in detail on the subject of accidents as a cross-border commuter.
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Specific information about SUVA
Place of treatment
Cross-border commuters can choose the place of treatment at SUVA freely between Switzerland and their country of residence (in this case Austria). The benefits in kind concerned can be medical costs, medication, medically prescribed therapies or hospital costs due to emergency medical treatment. The basis for this is the CH-EU Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. Benefits outside Switzerland are provided in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of residence (here AT) on the basis of Art. 17, 19 and 36 of Regulation EEC No. 883/2004. For benefits within Switzerland, the legal provisions, agreements and tariffs of Switzerland apply.
Accident report to SUVA
As soon as SUVA has been notified of an accident – by the company’s HR department (quick notification!) – it sends the E123 benefit form to the service provider (doctor/hospital). The service provider can then settle the costs directly with the liaison body. The SUVA liaison office for Vorarlberg is the ÖGK, which also carries out the assessment according to its tariffs for the attention of SUVA and deals with questions regarding the receipt of benefits in kind. The main advantage of the procedure using form E123 is that the accident victim is not included in the initial billing cycle. This can quickly amount to several thousand euros. However, this requires the company to report the accident in good time before the first invoice is received by SUVA.
Daily sickness benefits insurance
Incidentally, the employer insists on the completion of an “Unfallschein UVG” form for daily sickness benefit insurance, which states the incapacity for work as a percentage, which is unusual in Austria and also has a direct retroactive effect on the Swiss employer. Unfortunately, the Austrian form “Arbeitsunfähigkeit Dienstgeber” does not seem to be sufficient here – a system incompatibility. At best, SUVA has the right to summon a doctor of its choice to determine the incapacity for work.
Billing on vacation
When on vacation, a leisure accident is classified as an illness in EU/EFTA countries and is processed accordingly via the respective liaison office to the health insurance fund of the person concerned. Cash payment is often required for smaller amounts. These receipts can be submitted to SUVA for reimbursement, whereby the social insurance tariff of the respective country applies. If you are going on vacation to a non-European country, you should find out in advance not only about illness but also about possible accidents (see supplementary company insurance). The issue of repatriation also plays a role here. According to its statutes, membership of the Swiss Rega is not an option for cross-border commuters – except for the Swiss abroad.
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