Are you well insured for skiing accidents?
Every year, some 3.5 million Swiss go to the mountains to go skiing or snowboarding. And every year, there are on average 63,000 accidents* on the slopes. So it is definitely worthwhile to take a look at your insurance coverage before hurtling down our beautiful mountains… This coverage will depend on your status.
If you are a salaried employee working at least 8h/week for the same employer:
- A benefit in kind: this means the reimbursement of medical treatment and auxiliary equipment (crutches, wheelchair, etc.) and also the costs of rescue and transport.
- A cash benefit: the insurer will pay you daily indemnities to compensate for loss of earnings in the event you are unable to work.
If you are a minor, a student or a retired person, (meaning without a professional activity) or an employee working less than 8h for the same employer:
You should also be aware of the limitations: the LAMal only covers the cost of a hospital stay in the public division as well as 50 % of the rescue costs in Switzerland (for a maximum amount of 500 CHF for transport by ambulance and 5,000 CHF/year for transport by helicopter).
In addition to the LAMal, you may have taken out supplementary health insurance, the LCA. This provides an extension of the basic coverage, such as hospitalisation in private division or cover for the share of rescue and transport not assumed by the LAMal.
If you are self-employed
Regardless of the status, in the event of a serious violation of basic safety rules outside secured slopes, the person insured exposes themself to a reduction of the insurance benefits (daily indemnity and pension).
Our advice: call on a broker!
To learn more, contact us:
- Are any insurances included in the ski pass?
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Yes, and also with your credit card if you paid your ski pass with it! You should refer to the specific and general conditions as levels of coverage can be very different.With the ski pass, you will be covered when you are skiing (and other related snow sports), linked to the use of ski lifts:
- Reimbursement of the unused ski pass, ski classes not attended, rental of unused sports equipment.
- Responsibility for the costs of rescue and transport, emergency medical costs (10,000 CHF maximum per season)
- Who is responsible for transport by helicopter?
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Several million evacuations take place by air every winter. One minute of flight in a helicopter costs approximately 100 CHF. So the invoice can rapidly take off from there. In an easily accessible zone in Switzerland, the average cost of a rescue by helicopter amounts to 2,500/3,500 CHF. If you are employed, you are covered by the LAA (the SUVA insures nearly half of all Swiss employees, or by a private insurer). If you are not professionally active or work less than 8h for the same employer, the cost of the accident will be borne by the LAMal and the LCA, if you have subscribed. Cf. article below
- How do you know if you correctly insured?
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In general terms, and in any domain, one should always carefully read the insurance contract as one might not be insured for some risks and have double insurance for others. Which is why it is always a good idea to go through an insurance broker.
Typically, the unused passes/classes/rental of material are reimbursed only by the insurances that come with the ski pass. On the other hand, all the other items like search and transport costs may already be covered elsewhere. These insurances come into play as a second line should there be any limitations. - Is the Rega an insurance?
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The Swiss Air Ambulance, also known as REGA, like Air Glaciers or Air Zermatt, is not an insurance. However, if you are a donor to one of these rescue companies, you may be exempted from part or all of the costs that are not covered by insurance. We suggest that you refer to these companies.
- Adjust your speed
- Wear a helmet
- Skiers, have your bindings checked every year
- Snowboarders, wear wrist protection
- Follow the rules of the International Ski Federation or SKUS
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