Insurance and Liability Fact Sheet

President’s Office
Z-MB-Insurance Incoming Students
International Affairs Unit
Prozess:
6.01.03 Mobilität
Version:
1.0.1
alt SFS:
2.4.3.3-15MB Merkblatt Versicherungen und Haftung (Incoming)
Target Group:
Public
Document manager.:
LeiterIn Stab Ressort Internationales
Disclaimer
This is a non-binding, unofficial translation of the original German version, “Merkblatt Versicherungen und Haftung“. It was prepared with
due care. Nevertheless, the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences takes no responsibility for any omissions and/or mistakes. The legally binding document is the original German version, which shall prevail in any case of doubt or differences in interpretation.
Please note that English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation or the Canton of Zurich. This document is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Original German version dated 19.05.2015
Insurance and Liability Fact Sheet
(May 2015; all information subject to change)
This leaflet contains information and recommendations on insurance and liability issues for foreign guest students who are interested in studying or doing an internship
at the ZHAW.
1. General regulations
According to Swiss law, everybody residing in Switzerland for more than 3 months must be insured against
sickness and accidents. Foreign students who stay longer than 3 months are therefore required to purchase a
basic insurance plan from a Swiss health insurance provider. Swiss insurance companies are obliged to provide
basic coverage for all applicants without any conditions or waiting period.
If you are able to provide appropriate evidence that you have health and accident insurance in your home country, you may be exempted from this requirement. Please verify with your insurance provider before you
leave your home country that you have sufficient insurance coverage for the entire duration of your stay
in Switzerland.
It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that they have appropriate insurance coverage, in particular accident,
health and liability insurance. The ZHAW accepts no responsibility and cannot be held liable.
Swisscare Insurance Services http://www.swisscare-intl.com/ offers special foreign student insurance plans.
2. Health and accident insurance
Exemption from compulsory insurance:
Foreign students may apply for exemption from the compulsory insurance requirement provided that they can
show evidence that they have an existing insurance plan in their home countries.
An equal or more comprehensive insurance in another country does not automatically lead to exemption from
the insurance requirement in Switzerland. However, it is possible to submit a written and well-founded request
for exemption. The Gesundheitsdirektion des Kanton Zürich (Canton of Zurich department of health) decides
on each request on a case by case basis. The exemption request form is available at: www.stadtzuerich.ch/sgd-okv.
Proof of financial means:
When they apply for their visa, students from non EU/EFTA countries must submit proof of access to a sum of
CHF 21,000 per year in a Swiss bank account or other approved financial institution:
http://www.finma.ch/e/beaufsichtigte/bewilligungstraeger/Pages/default.aspx (bank account statement). This
money serves as a guarantee to cover their living costs, including compulsory health insurance premiums, during their stay in Switzerland.
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President’s Office
Z-MB-Insurance Incoming Students
International Affairs Unit
Prozess:
6.01.03 Mobilität
Version:
1.0.1
alt SFS:
2.4.3.3-15MB Merkblatt Versicherungen und Haftung (Incoming)
Target Group:
Public
Document manager.:
LeiterIn Stab Ressort Internationales
Benefits in case of accident:
Accident benefits are included in the basic insurance coverage. If you work in Switzerland for at least 8 hours
per week for the same Swiss employer, accident insurance will be covered by your employer. In such a case,
you do not have to take out additional accident insurance. This is an advantage, but only if you are in a longterm employment situation.
3. Liability insurance
Personal liability insurance is valid worldwide in most cases. Although it is not compulsory in Switzerland, we
recommend all students to take out liability insurance.
4. AHV/IV
As per 15th October of the year, the ZHAW has to report the social security numbers for all students to the State
Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI). If, as a foreign student, you do not hold a Swiss social security number, the ZHAW will apply for this on your behalf and notify you of your number in your confirmation of enrolment.
If you do not work during your studies and/or are in Switzerland solely for the purposes of studying,
you are not obliged to pay social security contributions.
If you take up work during your studies in Switzerland and earn more than CHF 2,300.- per year, your employer
will automatically deduct social security contributions from your salary. These contributions can be added to
your pension scheme in your home country once you leave Switzerland.
5. Links
AHV
BSV
CRUS
COMPARIS
EDA
KVG
SVA
freigegeben am:
Forms, fact sheets and legal information regarding old age and survivors’ insurance
The Federal Social Insurance Office (Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen)
provides an overview of the Swiss social security network.
The website of the Rectors’ Conference of Swiss Universities offers information about studying abroad.
Independent platform for the comparison of different basic insurance plans,
including their benefits and a cost calculator
On the homepage of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, you will find
the addresses of all the Swiss representatives abroad, travel tips, and guidelines regarding any visa you may require.
The joint institution KVG provides general information and advice regarding
Swiss health insurance (basic coverage).
Information about AHV insurance during your studies
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President’s Office
Z-MB-Insurance Incoming Students
International Affairs Unit
Prozess:
6.01.03 Mobilität
Version:
1.0.1
alt SFS:
2.4.3.3-15MB Merkblatt Versicherungen und Haftung (Incoming)
freigegeben am:
Target Group:
durch:
Public
Document manager.:
in Kraft seit:
LeiterIn Stab Ressort Internationales
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