When does the new access threshold take effect?

The revision of the OAINF Ordinance comes into force on 1 January 2027. Those wishing to activate a new year accident protection must complete the procedures by December 2026. There is no retroactivity: the change of the threshold does not affect policies already signed, but allows new applicants who could not sign up before the effective date.

What exactly is the new income limit for accessing insurance?

The new threshold is CHF 44,460 per year, corresponding to 30% of the maximum insured amount. Before the reform, the threshold was CHF 66,690 per annum (45% of the maximum amount). This reduction lowers the access requirement, allowing about 40,000 more self-employed workers to subscribe to optional accident protection according to the LAINF.

Who primarily benefits from this reform?

The reform mainly favors workers in the lower-income professional sectors, women working part-time, and artists in the cultural sector. For those who work simultaneously as an employee and as a self-employed person, the new flexibility allows insurers to adjust the threshold according to the activity rate, avoiding exclusions due to rigid parameters.

Where and how can I take out optional accident insurance from 2027?

After January 1, 2027, you can contact accident insurance companies such as SUVA, Helvetia, AXA and other private operators that offer coverage for the self-employed. You will need to document your annual income by means of a tax return or business declaration and, if applicable, communicate your rate of self-employment. The insurer will evaluate the case and propose a customized policy.

Is accident insurance mandatory for the self-employed?

No. In Switzerland, compulsory accident insurance (LAINF) applies only to employees. Self-employed people can only insure themselves on an optional basis. The reform lowers the threshold of access for those who voluntarily choose to protect themselves, but it remains a non-binding personal choice.

Easy access to accident insurance from 2027 (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 26 August 2026

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Reduced threshold from CHF 66,690 to CHF 44,460: from January 2027, around 40,000 self-employed workers will be able to insure against accidents with new opportunities.

Context

In a nutshell

Access threshold lowered from CHF 66,690 to CHF 44,460 per year
Change from 45% to 30% of the maximum insurable amount
Approximately 40,000 self-employed workers will be able to ensure
Entry into force 1 January 2027

Key facts

What: Reduction of the access threshold to optional accident insurance (LAINF)
When: Decision 26 August 2026; entered into force 1 January 2027
Where: Switzerland, nationwide
Who: Federal Council (OAINF ordinance review)
Previous threshold: CHF 66,690 per year (45% of the maximum amount)
New threshold: CHF 44,460 per year (30% of the maximum amount)
Estimated beneficiaries: Approximately 40,000 self-employed

The Federal Council decided on 26 August 2026 to lower the threshold for access to optional accident insurance under the federal law LAINF. The threshold will drop from CHF 66,690 per annum (corresponding to 45% of the maximum insured amount) to CHF 44,460 per annum (corresponding to 30% of the maximum insured amount). The revision of the OAINF ordinance will take effect from 1 January 2027.

The problem the reform addresses

In Switzerland, the accident insurance system operates on two parallel tracks. All employees are compulsorily insured according to the LAINF — an automatic right linked to the employment relationship. Persons engaged in self-employed gainful activity can only insure themselves on the basis

Operational details

Who accesses accident protection today

The lowering of the threshold represents a significant jump in the ability to protect income. With the previous level of 66,690 francs per year, only those who reached that minimum gain could voluntarily access the cover. An overview of self-employed incomes in Switzerland reveals that many — artisans, consultants, cultural professionals, home assistants — operate well below that threshold, remaining unprotected.

The new threshold of 44,460 francs opens up access to a wider universe: anyone who earns at least 30% of the maximum insured amount (instead of 45%) will be able to protect their income from accidents they may suffer while working. This benefit is particularly relevant for artists and cultural professionals, personal assistants and self-employed caregivers, low-budget consultants and freelancers, and women who choose part-time freelance work.

Flexibility for those working on multiple fronts

The revision allows insurers to modulate the threshold based on the activity rate. In the cultural and creative sector, it is common for a person to combine multiple part-time assignments as an employee and as a freelancer. The possibility of lowering the access threshold to the effective activity rate allows these workers to obtain proportionate protection without exclusions due to rigid thresholds.

Before the

Useful planning tools

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Key points

How to access optional accident insurance from 2027

Starting from 1 January 2027, the process for a self-employed worker who wants to protect themselves becomes more straightforward from a regulatory perspective. The first step is to verify whether your annual independent income reaches 44,460 francs — the new threshold. If yes, you are eligible to apply for insurance according to the OAINF regulation rules.

The second step is to contact an insurer that offers accident coverage for self-employed persons. SUVA, Helvetia, AXA and other administrators offer policies of this type. After submitting documentation (tax declaration or business declaration), the insurer will assess your case and propose a personalised policy. For those working part-time with income divided between employed and self-employed, it is essential to clearly communicate your self-employment rate to the insurer. The new flexibility introduced by the amended OAINF allows the administrator to tailor the protection to your actual self-employed income.

Deadlines and immediate actions

The operational window is the period between November 2026 and December 2026. Those wishing to activate protection from 1 January 2027 must complete the procedures before the end of the year. There is no retroactive obligation: anyone who remains without coverage today will have all of 2027 to register. Furthermore, if a self-employed worker suffers an accident before 1 January 2027, protection is ensured only if already subscribed before the effective date of the reform.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does the new access threshold take effect?: The revision of the OAINF Ordinance comes into force on 1 January 2027. Those wishing to activate a new year accident protection must complete the procedures by December 2026. There is no retroactivity: the change of the threshold does not affect policies already signed, but allows new applicants who could not sign up before the effective date.
What exactly is the new income limit for accessing insurance?: The new threshold is CHF 44,460 per year, corresponding to 30% of the maximum insured amount. Before the reform, the threshold was CHF 66,690 per annum (45% of the maximum amount). This reduction lowers the access requirement, allowing about 40,000 more self-employed workers to subscribe to optional accident protection according to the LAINF.
Who primarily benefits from this reform?: The reform mainly favors workers in the lower-income professional sectors, women working part-time, and artists in the cultural sector. For those who work simultaneously as an employee and as a self-employed person, the new flexibility allows insurers to adjust the threshold according to the activity rate, avoiding exclusions due to rigid parameters.
Where and how can I take out optional accident insurance from 2027?: After January 1, 2027, you can contact accident insurance companies such as SUVA, Helvetia, AXA and other private operators that offer coverage for the self-employed. You will need to document your annual income by means of a tax return or business declaration and, if applicable, communicate your rate of self-employment. The insurer will evaluate the case and propose a customized policy.
Is accident insurance mandatory for the self-employed?: No. In Switzerland, compulsory accident insurance (LAINF) applies only to employees. Self-employed people can only insure themselves on an optional basis. The reform lowers the threshold of access for those who voluntarily choose to protect themselves, but it remains a non-binding personal choice.