In Switzerland, all employees are compulsorily insured against accidents at work and occupational diseases. So far, everyone knows more or less. What many people do not know is that there is a threshold that changes things quite a bit: if you work more than 8 hours a week for the same employer, you are also covered for non-occupational accidents, that is, what happens to you on a Saturday on the bike, skiing, or simply going down the stairs of your house. If you work less than 8 hours, you only have LAA coverage for occupational accidents, and the rest is covered by LAMal with your corresponding deductible.
Practical difference matters. The LAA pays 80% of the salary from the first day of disability, without a waiting period. LAMal works differently and depends on what your contract says. When someone who works 7 hours a week in a company goes down on the weekend and needs weeks of recovery, the bill and paperwork are not the same as for someone fully covered.
What many people discover too late is what happens when they run out of work. LAA coverage for non-occupational accidents is maintained for 31 days after the last day worked. After that period, you have to make sure that the LAMal covers accidents, because if not, there is a hole. This procedure is not automatic: it must be expressly communicated to the health insurance fund when the accident risk is reinstated. And if you're on unpaid parental leave, on leave or between contracts, the situation is exactly the same.
With part-time workers having multiple employers simultaneously, the coordination rules get even more complicated. In these cases, it is advisable to check with each employer what coverage each contract has, because they do not always add up to exceed the 8-hour threshold.