Sports accidents, extreme sports and high-risk sports: when does accident insurance pay?
There are 400,000 sports accidents each year in Switzerland, occurring during traditional and extreme sports alike. Comparis has some tips on proper insurance cover when practising sports.
iStock/yanik88
1. Who pays for a sports accident?
Compulsory accident insurance covers the costs in the event of a sports accident. It pays for treatment costs and a daily allowance for employed persons.
The benefits vary depending on whether you took out accident insurance through your employer or your health insurer.
People who suffer an accident and have accident insurance via their basic insurance must pay for the deductible and the co-payment themselves.
People who suffer an accident and have accident insurance via their employer incur no costs.
2. When does your employer's accident insurance pay for an accident?
Do you work at least eight hours a week for a single employer? you will be insured against all accidents. This also applies to accidents that occur outside of work. You do not need additional accident cover from your health insurance provider.
If you work for the same employer for less than 8 hours per week, If you do not work a minimum of eight hours a week for a single employer, you will normally have to arrange accident cover through your health insurance company.
3. Does accident insurance pay for the costs of accidents that occur during extreme sports activities?
Extreme sports are a risk for insurers. Therefore, in the event of a sports accident, risk-taking is punished with a reduction in benefits of up to 50% (Ordinance on Accident Insurance [UVV] Art. 50, not available in English).
The reason given by insurers is that those practising extreme sports are aware that they are engaging in a high-risk activity. If you do high-risk sports activities, you should therefore consult your insurance company. Under certain circumstances, you can supplement your cover or take out additional insurance against a premium surcharge.
What benefits can be reduced by the accident insurance provider?
The accident insurer may only reduce cash benefits such as daily allowances and long-term support for living costs.
The accident insurer may not reduce the cost of:
Rescue
Treatment
Transportation
Medication
Which sports are considered high-risk sports for insurance purposes?
Relative risk-taking is defined as sports with a high risk due to seriously disregarding the usual rules or precautions. Benefit reductions are possible depending on the case, such as when skiing off marked slopes (off-piste or backcountry skiing).
Extreme sports are considered an absolute risk. Here, insurers reduce cash benefits by half.
Comparis tip: contact your accident insurance provider to clarify your level of cover before you decide on a high-risk sport.
High-risk sports: the list from Suva
Suva classifies the following sports as absolute risks (the list is not exhaustive):
Racing and training in the following sports: autocross, downhill biking, motocross, snowcross (also spelled snocross)
Driving on racetracks with a car or motorcycle (exception: driving safety courses)
Riding go-karts, if the vehicle reaches speeds of more than 100 km/h
Full contact competitions (e.g. boxing competitions)
Deliberately smashing glass, bricks, blocks or thick boards with the edge of the hand, the head or the foot
Jumps made using bikes with modifications
Speed record runs in skiing
Speedflying
Base jumping
Scuba-diving to a depth below 40 metres
Riverboarding/hydrospeed
4. High-risk sports: what insurance options are there in Switzerland?
Various insurers offer voluntary supplementary accident insurance for extreme sports. There are collective solutions for employers and for high-risk sports such as motorsport, or individual insurance for individuals.
Alternatively, you can also consider income protection insurance in case you are unable to work due to injuries sustained during high-risk sports. This can make up for any gaps in coverage, and helps you to maintain your standard of living should a serious accident occur.
5. Sports accident at a club or association: who pays?
In cases where sports clubs or associations pay their players wages, they are generally regarded as employers. Members are therefore compulsorily insured against occupational accidents. An example of an occupational accident: a player injures their ankle during football training at the club.
6. What does personal liability insurance pay if I have a sports accident?
Personal liability insurance, which is voluntary, comes into play if a sportsperson injures another person or damages their property. The cost of the victim's operations, rehabilitation and potential inability to work is often high. In the worst-case scenario, without appropriate insurance, the costs can drive the person who caused the accident to ruin.
This article was first published on 07.05.2021
