Accident Insurance: Who Pays When Something Happens at Daycare?

Accident Insurance: Who Pays When Something Happens at Daycare?

Children play, climb, run — and sometimes things go wrong. A grazed knee is harmless, but what if your child has a serious fall at daycare, knocks out a tooth or breaks a bone? Who pays for the treatment? Is the daycare liable? And what do you need to know as a parent to be prepared? This guide explains the interplay of accident insurance, liability insurance and health insurance for child accidents at daycare — clearly and practically.

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Basics: How Are Children Insured in Switzerland?

Children Are Not Covered by the AIA

The most important point first: the Federal Act on Accident Insurance (AIA/UVG) only applies to employees. Your child is not an employee — therefore they are not covered by the AIA, even if they are in daycare every day.

This means: accidents involving your child — whether at daycare, on the playground or at home — are covered by health insurance (HIA/KVG), not accident insurance.

Health Insurance as Accident Cover for Children

In Swiss basic health insurance (HIA/KVG), accident cover is automatically included as long as your child is not in employment. This means:

• Doctor visits after an accident are paid by the health insurer
• Hospital stays are covered
• Medication and therapies (physiotherapy, occupational therapy) are covered
• Dental treatment after an accident is paid by the health insurer (unlike regular dental treatment, which is not included in basic insurance)

Note: Deductible and Co-payment

The regular cost sharing also applies to accidents:

Cost Component	Amount
Deductible (children up to 18)	CHF 0 (children's rate, if chosen) or CHF 100–600 (depending on chosen model)
Co-payment	10% of costs (max. CHF 350/year for children)

Tip: For children, the lowest deductible (CHF 0) is recommended, as the premium difference is small and children visit the doctor more frequently. More on the optimal insurance strategy for children in our guide Daycare Contract: What to Watch For.

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Who Is Liable When Something Happens at Daycare?

Scenario 1: Accident Without Third-Party Fault

Your child climbs the climbing frame and falls off. They break their arm. The daycare did nothing wrong — the equipment was intact, supervision was ensured.

Who pays?

• Your health insurer (HIA/KVG) covers the treatment costs
• The daycare is not liable because there is no fault
• You bear the deductible and co-payment

Scenario 2: Accident Due to Inadequate Supervision by the Daycare

Your child runs unsupervised onto the street and is hit by a bicycle. The carer was distracted.

Who pays?

• Your health insurer (HIA/KVG) initially covers the treatment costs
• The daycare's liability insurance comes into play: if the daycare breached its duty of supervision, it is liable for the damage (treatment costs, compensation for pain and suffering, consequential damages)
• Your health insurer can pursue a recourse claim against the daycare or its liability insurer

Scenario 3: Another Child Injures Your Child

Children quarrel, and another child bites, pushes or hits your child. This happens.

Who pays?

• Your health insurer (HIA/KVG) covers the treatment costs
• The private liability insurance of the other child's parents may cover the damage — but only if the child is deemed to have a certain capacity for judgement. Children under about 7 years are generally considered lacking capacity for judgement, which limits the parents' liability
• In practice, it is often difficult to claim the liability of another child for accidents at daycare

Scenario 4: Your Child Injures Another Child

Conversely, your child may also injure other children. In this case:

• The other child's health insurer pays for the treatment
• If your child has capacity for judgement (generally from about 7 years) and caused the damage, your private liability insurance may be claimed
• Strongly recommended: Make sure your family liability insurance covers damage caused by children — most policies do

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The Daycare's Liability Insurance

What the Daycare's Liability Insurance Covers

Every reputable daycare has business and professional liability insurance. This covers:

• Personal injury: When a child is injured due to the daycare's fault
• Property damage: When property is damaged (e.g. broken glasses, soiled clothing)
• Financial loss: Consequential costs such as therapies or permanent impairments

What the Daycare's Liability Insurance Does NOT Cover

• Accidents without fault by the daycare (normal play risk)
• Damage caused between children (covered by the parents' private liability insurance)
• Theft or loss of personal items (toys, clothing)

What to Watch For in the Daycare Contract

Before signing the daycare contract, check the liability provisions. In our detailed guide Daycare Contract: What to Watch For you will find all important contract clauses — including sample wording for liability. Pay particular attention to:

• Liability exclusions: Some daycares exclude liability for certain damages as a blanket rule — this is not always legally permissible
• Insurance proof: The daycare should be able to demonstrate that adequate liability insurance is in place
• Reporting obligations: What must the daycare report to you, what must you report to the daycare?

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Dental Accidents in Children: A Special Case

Why Dental Accidents Are Particularly Sensitive

Dental accidents are among the most common injuries in young children — and they are often expensive. A knocked-out baby tooth is usually uncomplicated, but damage to permanent teeth can cause treatment costs of CHF 5,000 to CHF 30,000 over the entire childhood and into adulthood.

Who Pays for Dental Accidents?

Situation	Cost Coverage
Dental accident (accident is documented)	Health insurer HIA/KVG (basic insurance)
Dental accident caused by a third party (fault)	Liability insurance of the person at fault
Dental treatment without accident cause (cavities etc.)	Not in basic insurance — only through supplementary insurance
Follow-up treatments (crown, implant in adulthood)	HIA/KVG, if the accident is documented

What You Must Do Immediately

1. Document the accident: Date, time, circumstances — preferably in writing, with photos
2. Obtain daycare confirmation: The daycare should confirm the accident in writing (accident report)
3. Go to the dentist immediately: Even if the damage looks minor — have it documented
4. Inform your health insurer: Report the accident to your health insurer as an "accident" (not as "illness" — this is important for coverage)
5. Keep all documents: Keep all receipts and reports for years — follow-up treatments may only become necessary in adulthood

Warning: If you do not report and document the dental accident as an accident, the health insurer can refuse coverage for follow-up treatments years later. The burden of proof lies with you.

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Reporting Obligations for Accidents at Daycare

What the Daycare Must Report

Professional daycares have an accident reporting system. For every accident, the daycare should:

• Inform you immediately (by phone for serious injuries, in writing for minor incidents)
• Create an accident report: Date, time, circumstances, persons involved, first aid measures
• Provide first aid: Every daycare must have trained first aiders and a first aid kit
• Call emergency services for serious accidents (Tel. 144)

What You Should Do as a Parent

• Ask questions: If your child comes home with an injury, actively ask about what happened
• Request documentation: Ask for a copy of the accident report
• Inform your health insurer: Report every accident, even minor ones — especially for dental injuries and head injuries
• Visit the doctor: When in doubt, it is better to visit the doctor once too often than once too few

When Is a Lawyer Worth It?

In most cases, the health insurer and liability insurer settle the matter between themselves. You should consider a lawyer if:

• The daycare has obviously breached its duty of supervision and does not acknowledge the damage
• Long-term consequential damage is foreseeable (e.g. permanent scars, dental damage, disabilities)
• The daycare's liability insurer refuses to pay
• Large amounts are involved (from approx. CHF 5,000)

A lawyer specialising in liability law can advise you on whether a claim makes sense. Many offer a free initial consultation. In our guide Legal Right to a Daycare Place you will find further information on legal questions relating to childcare.

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Supplementary Insurance: When Is It Worth It?

Hospital Supplementary Insurance for Children

Hospital supplementary insurance (semi-private or private) can make a difference in serious accidents:

• Free choice of doctor in hospital (including chief physician)
• Single room — a big plus for anxious children
• Access to specialised clinics throughout Switzerland
• Cost: approx. CHF 10–30/month for children

Dental Supplementary Insurance

Dental supplementary insurance covers:

• Orthodontic corrections (braces): CHF 10,000–15,000 — basic insurance pays nothing
• Prophylaxis and dental hygiene
• Non-accident-related dental treatments

Important: Dental supplementary insurance often needs to be taken out before the 3rd birthday to receive full benefits. Many insurers require a dental admission examination. Don't wait too long.

Accident Supplementary Insurance

Some health insurers offer accident supplementary insurance for children that goes beyond HIA/KVG cover:

• Higher coverage in case of disability
• Death benefit (in the worst case)
• Additional therapy benefits (alternative medicine, psychotherapy after an accident)
• Cost: approx. CHF 5–15/month

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Prevention: How to Reduce the Accident Risk

What a Good Daycare Does for Safety

Safety is a quality feature. When choosing a daycare, look for:

• Secured stairs and windows: Stair railings, window locks, non-slip floors
• Age-appropriate play equipment: Regularly inspected, no sharp edges, soft ground surface
• Supervision ratio: Sufficient carers per group of children
• First aid training: All carers should have a current first aid certificate
• Emergency concept: What happens in case of an accident? Is there a documented procedure?
• Allergies and medications: Are these systematically recorded and communicated?

Our guide Recognising Daycare Quality gives you a complete criteria catalogue for identifying a safe and high-quality daycare.

What You Can Do as a Parent

• Insurance check: Regularly check whether your child's health insurance and liability insurance are up to date and sufficient
• Accident prevention at home: Most child accidents happen not at daycare but at home. Secure stairs, sockets, hob plates and drawers
• Sensitise children: From about 3 years, children can learn simple safety rules (don't run on wet floors, don't climb on chairs etc.)
• Encourage helmet use: When cycling, scootering and skiing — always

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need separate accident insurance for my child?

No, not necessarily. Basic insurance (HIA/KVG) automatically covers accidents as long as your child is not in employment. Supplementary insurance is worthwhile with a high accident risk or if you want better hospital benefits.

My child knocked out a tooth at daycare. What must I do?

Go to the dentist immediately, have the daycare confirm the accident in writing and report it to your health insurer as an accident (not as illness). Keep all receipts — follow-up treatments may only become necessary years later.

The daycare says it is not liable. Is that correct?

If the daycare correctly fulfilled its duty of supervision and the accident happened despite reasonable precautions (normal play risk), it is indeed not liable. However, if supervision was inadequate or the infrastructure was unsafe, the daycare can very well be liable. When in doubt: document everything and seek legal advice.

Does the health insurer also cover physiotherapy after an accident?

Yes. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other medically necessary therapies are paid by basic insurance (HIA/KVG) when prescribed by a doctor. The usual co-payment applies.

My child attends a playgroup rather than a daycare. Do the same rules apply?

Yes. The insurance law situation is identical: your child is insured against accidents through your health insurance (HIA/KVG), regardless of whether they attend a daycare, playgroup, childminder family or after-school care.

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Conclusion: Well Insured, Correctly Responding

The key points at a glance:

1. Children are insured against accidents through health insurance (HIA/KVG) — not through the AIA/UVG
2. The daycare is only liable for a breach of duty — not for normal play risk
3. Always report and document dental accidents as accidents — follow-up costs can be enormous
4. Good private liability insurance protects you — in case your child injures others
5. Check supplementary insurance — take out dental insurance as early as possible

Before you sign a daycare contract, carefully check the liability clauses. Our guide Daycare Contract: What to Watch For shows you which clauses are critical and what you should insist on.

Find the right care now

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Sources: Federal Act on Accident Insurance (AIA/UVG), Federal Act on Health Insurance (HIA/KVG), Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), Swiss Dental Association (SSO), kibesuisse recommendations, cantonal supervisory authorities. As of: February 2026.