Skiing accident in Switzerland and abroad: does the insurance pay?
Over 50,000 Swiss people have accidents while skiing every year – and this can quickly become expensive both at home and abroad. Comparis explains which insurance pays.
13.02.2026
iStock/Alex Ishchenko
1. Skiing accident: who pays in Switzerland?
Accident insurance under the Accident Insurance Act
Do you work for the same employer at least eight hours a week? Then you are compulsorily insured through your employer against occupational accidents as well as against leisure accidents (Art. 13 UVV). Accident insurance under the Accident Insurance Act covers all costs in the general ward in the event of an accident in Switzerland (Art. 15 UVV).
Accident cover from the health insurer under the KVG
Are you not insured against accidents through your employer? Then you must include the mandatory accident insurance with your health insurer with your health insurer.
For accident cover under the Health Insurance Act (KVG), you pay in Switzerland deductible and coinsurance. In the case of treatment outside the canton, without supplemental hospital insurance you may have to pay additional costs. However, this does not apply in emergencies.
2. Skiing accident abroad: who has to pay?
Accident insurance according to the Accident Insurance Act
In EU and EFTA countries as well as the United Kingdom the local billing practice applies. However, the hospital or doctor’s office must invoice according to the basic rate of the respective country. This means that the insurance only pays the tariff of public hospitals and doctors.
In the rest of the world, accident insurance under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) pays a maximum of twice the cost that it would pay for treatment in Switzerland.
Accident cover from health insurer according to KVG
In EU/EFTA countries and the United Kingdom, the local billing practice applies to medical treatments – including cost sharing. You don’t have to pay the Swiss franchise and coinsurance.
For non-EU/EFTA countries, the following applies: accident insurance according to KVG covers a maximum of twice the costs, that it would pay for treatment in the canton of residence. For hospital treatment, this means that it covers a maximum of 90% of the costs in the canton of residence, since in Switzerland the canton usually pays 55% of the hospital costs.
Special feature in the canton of Zug: in 2026 and 2027, the canton will cover 99% of hospital costs. Health insurers pay only 1% accordingly – and only cover 2% of the costs that would be incurred in Switzerland.
Supplementary insurance for abroad
A skiing accident can quickly become expensive. An additional insurance policy protects you from high costs. These include, for example, supplementary insurance for outpatient treatment and special supplementary insurance policies for abroad.
3. Rescue costs after a skiing accident: who pays?
In the event of a rescue operation, rescuers bring an injured person out of danger. Such rescue operations are often carried out by private organisations – and cost a lot of money.
Well-known organisations in Switzerland include:
Depending on the situation, the insurance company will only cover the costs partially or not at all. Without supplementary insurance an emergency can quickly become expensive.
Important: The Rega patronage is not an insurance policy. As a patron, Rega can waive the remaining costs for you, but it does not have to.
Accident insurance under the UVG reimburses all necessary rescue and recovery operations in Switzerland (Art. 20 UVV).
Accident insurance under KVG covers half of the rescue costs. The following applies: annual maximum amount of 5,000 francs.
But if you have to be rescued by helicopter after a skiing accident, for example, this can cost several thousand francs The costs are therefore not fully covered.
Accident insurance under the UVG pays abroad at most one fifth of the current insurable annual earnings (Art. 20 UVV). In 2026, this will be a maximum of 29,640 francs.
Abroad, accident insurance under the KVG pays nothing for rescue and recovery costs. You must pay all costs yourself.
4. Who covers the cost of repatriation?
Are you insured under accident insurance according to the Accident Insurance Act? Then the same rules apply as for recovery and rescue costs. This means that the insurance pays a maximum of one fifth of the insured salary for repatriations. In 2026, this is 29’640 francs.
The accident insurance according to KVG pays half of the medically necessary transport costs. However, it pays a maximum of 500 francs per year. Repatriations from abroad are not covered.
How much does repatriation from abroad cost?
How much repatriation costs depends on several factors from:
How far are you from Switzerland? For shorter distances, transport may be carried out with an ambulance. If you are further away, you will travel by plane.
What is your state of health? Can you travel by plane alone or do you need medical assistance? Do you even have to travel in an ambulance jet?
In the worst case, repatriation can cost over 100’000 francs . This means that even the cover of accident insurance may not be sufficient.
Full repatriation cost coverage with supplemental insurance
Some supplementary insurance policies cover the full costs for return transport to Switzerland. Prerequisite: they are medically necessary. Compare now and protect yourself from high costs.
5. Skiing accidents and insurance abroad: what to look out for
This article was first published on 11.05.2021
