Frequently asked questions about the Coronavirus

Health insurance (LAMAL) :

Are tests related to screening Coronavirus be reimburseds?

> Tests carried out from June 25 onwards are reimbursed by the Confederation, without deductible or co-payment, for patients presenting certain symptoms or following close contact with a person who has tested positive. They are reimbursed by the health insurance company, which will subsequently re-invoice the Confederation.

> Rapid diagnostic tests, in addition to the standard tests performed from November 2 onwards, are covered by the Swiss Confederation, without any deductible or co-payment.

Social insurance ( AVS/AI/AC/LPP/LAA/PGM) :

I had had to put my employees on short-time working (RHT). How will this affect my insurance premiums?

> If you are entitled to compensation for reduced working hours (RHT), you must pay social security contributions based on normal working hours, i.e. 100% of your salary.

> Social security contributions are calculated on the basis of the contractual salary for normal working hours. The full salary remains insured.

2nd Pillar Occupational Pensions Act (BVG) :

1. The company is currently experiencing cash flow problems. Can it draw on its employer’s contribution reserves to pay its employees’ LPP contributions?

> Yes, the Federal Council has decided to allow employers to use the contribution reserves they have built up to pay their employees’ BVG contributions.

> This exceptional, time-limited measure runs from November 12, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

More information is available in a dedicated newsletter on the Argos Group website.

2. What are the regulations or provisions governing the coronavirus in occupational benefits?

> There are no special measures for COVID-19. The conditions applying to this condition are identical to those for other diseases. There are therefore no limitations.

Loss of earnings due to illness (PGM) and accident (LAA) :

1. How does sickness insurance cover the Covid-19 condition?

> Loss of earnings insurance covers only incapacity for work resulting from a physical or mental impairment.

This means that the person must have actually been infected by the disease, and the symptoms (fever, fatigue, etc.) must make them unfit for work. The illness must be proven and medically attested.

> Sickness loss of earnings insurance does not cover the inability to travel to the workplace, or economic losses resulting, for example, from quarantine, temporary closure of an establishment or border closures for foreign employees.

> Loss-of-earnings health insurance does not cover preventive screening for employees, even if contamination is suspected.

2. What cover do I have in the event of illness or accident during my short-time working (RHT)?

> In the event of a reduction in working hours (RHT) authorized by the cantonal unemployment fund and without any change in the employment relationship, your sickness and accident cover remains unchanged.

> The full salary remains insured.

3. Can the Coronavirus be covered by accident insurance as an “occupational disease”?

> In the case of LAA accident insurance, coverage as an “occupational disease” is subject to very strict criteria. It must be demonstrated that, as a result of the insured’s professional activity, he or she is four times more likely to be contaminated than the normal population. Given the current epidemic situation, this condition should not be recognized as an occupational disease.

> Indeed, in view of the generalized situation, being in regular contact with customers and work colleagues in a hotel, restaurant, ski school, EMS etc. is not enough to meet this requirement. However, each case must be studied individually with the insurance company, especially in the case of hospital and laboratory staff.

4. I’m in quarantine because I’ve (possibly) contracted Covid-19 , what happens to my salary?

> Quarantine cases are the responsibility of the APG compensation funds, in accordance with the measures taken by the Federal Council.

> Persons entitled to this loss-of-earnings allowance are parents, quarantined persons, self-employed persons and persons in a position similar to that of an employer.

> From January 18, 2021 to March 31, 2021, vulnerable persons are also entitled to the allowance if they are unable to work from home.

> Persons placed in quarantine by a doctor or the authorities who have to interrupt their gainful activity are entitled to the allowance if, at the time of the interruption of their gainful activity, they are compulsorily insured with the AVS (this implies having their place of residence or gainful activity in Switzerland) and are gainfully employed or self-employed.

> Parents whose child is in quarantine are also entitled to the allowance.

ATTENTION: A person who quarantines himself, after receiving a warning message from the SwissCovid application, is not entitled to the allowance. In this case, quarantine must be ordered by a doctor or the authorities.

> People who travel to a high-risk region on or after July 6, 2020, and who have to be quarantined after their return to Switzerland, are not entitled to the allowance. Excluded from this regulation are people returning from a country which, at the time of departure, was not on the list of at-risk states, and for which there was no official indication that it would be included on this list during the stay.

> The allowance is paid to the employer if the latter continues to pay the salary.