Insurance

VAVplus Explained -- UVG Accident Insurance via the Simplified Procedure

Since January 1, 2025, Switzerland offers VAVplus: the simplified billing procedure plus UVG accident insurance. One bill, one contact, one procedure. This article explains what changed, what it costs, and who should use it -- in more detail than anywhere else.

Key Takeaways

1VAVplus has been available since January 1, 2025, combining the simplified billing procedure (VAV) with UVG accident insurance in a single process.
2The UVG insurance runs through SOLIDA Versicherungen AG -- the company has been an established Swiss accident insurer since UVG was introduced in 1984.
3BU premium 2026: 0.505% of gross wages. NBU premium (from 8h/week): 1.432%. Significantly cheaper than most standalone policies.
4Maximum insured wage: CHF 22,680 per employee/year, CHF 60,480 total payroll per household.
5Registration via the cantonal compensation office -- tick VAVplus as an option on the form. Currently available in 19 of 26 cantons.

What Is VAVplus?

VAVplus stands for 'Simplified Billing Procedure Plus'. It is an extension of the simplified billing procedure (VAV) that has existed since 2008, allowing private households to settle social insurance contributions via a flat-rate withholding tax.

What's new: Since January 1, 2025, employers using the simplified procedure can include UVG accident insurance directly through the compensation office -- provided their own compensation office offers VAVplus. That's currently the case for 19 of the 26 cantonal compensation offices. The insurer is SOLIDA Versicherungen AG, based in Zurich (Saumackerstrasse 35, 8048 Zurich).

In practice: you register your domestic helper at the compensation office, select VAVplus, and UVG coverage activates automatically. No separate insurance, no extra paperwork, no second bill.

Legal basis

SOLIDA was chosen by most Swiss health insurers as their UVG partner when the law took effect in 1984, and it still plays this role under the simplified procedure today. The legal basis comes from amendments to the BGSA (Federal Act against Undeclared Work) and VOSA (Ordinance on Measures against Undeclared Work).

One bill, one contact, one procedure -- that's VAVplus.

VAV vs. VAVplus -- What Changed?

The old simplified procedure (VAV) had a major gap: no accident insurance. VAVplus closes it.

Old VAV (before 2025)

•Only AHV/IV/EO/ALV and withholding tax covered
•UVG accident insurance must be arranged separately
•Two bills, two contact points
•UVG minimum premium often CHF 100+ from private insurers

VAVplus (since January 2025)

•AHV/IV/EO/ALV, withholding tax AND UVG in one procedure
•UVG automatically insured through SOLIDA Versicherungen AG
•One bill, one contact point (compensation office)
•UVG premium proportional to wages -- from just a few francs per year

What Does VAVplus Cost?

VAVplus UVG premiums are proportional to gross wages. This makes an enormous difference for private households with small workloads:

0.505%

BU premium 2026 (occupational accident)

1.432%

NBU premium 2026 (from 8h/week)

up to 74%

Savings vs. standalone UVG

19/26

Cantons offer VAVplus as an opt-in

CHF

Example 1: Cleaner, 4h/week, CHF 25/h = CHF 5,200 annual wage. BU premium via VAVplus: CHF 26.26 per year. Compare: most standalone UVG policies require a minimum premium of CHF 100.

CHF

Example 2: Domestic helper, 8h/week, CHF 20/h = CHF 8,400 annual wage. BU premium: CHF 42.42. NBU premium (since 8h+): CHF 120.29. Total: CHF 162.71 per year -- for complete accident coverage.

CHF

For small workloads under CHF 5,000 annual wage, the cost advantage becomes particularly clear: you pay only what's proportionally due, instead of a minimum premium that far exceeds actual needs.

With small workloads, VAVplus costs just a few francs per year -- instead of a minimum premium of CHF 100+.

Who pays the premium?

BU premium: always the employer. NBU premium (from 8h/week): may be deducted from the employee's wages if agreed in the employment contract.

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Register in 3 Steps

Registration for VAVplus goes through your cantonal compensation office. The process is deliberately simple:

Register with the cantonal compensation office

Register as an employer with the AHV compensation office in your canton. If you are already enrolled in the simplified procedure, you can switch to VAVplus from January 1 of the next year.

Tick VAVplus on the form

On the registration form, select the 'VAVplus' option (or 'Simplified billing procedure plus UVG'). This automatically activates UVG insurance through SOLIDA.

Done -- UVG runs automatically

The compensation office transmits your data to SOLIDA Versicherungen AG. UVG coverage starts immediately, premiums are billed together with social insurance contributions.

Mind the cancellation period

Important: Existing UVG policies must be cancelled first. Observe the cancellation period of your current UVG insurer (typically 3 months before year-end). The switch to VAVplus is possible as of January 1 each year.

Limits and Restrictions

VAVplus is an excellent solution -- but not for every use case. Know the limits:

CHF 22,680

Max. wage per employee/year

CHF 60,480

Max. total payroll per household/year

Maximum wage: CHF 22,680 per employee per year. Above this, the simplified procedure is not permitted.
Maximum total payroll: CHF 60,480 per household per year (all employees combined).
No KTG (daily sickness allowance insurance) included. Must be arranged separately if desired.
No choice of insurer: UVG insurance runs exclusively through SOLIDA Versicherungen AG.
No BVG (occupational pension) included. BVG obligation only applies from CHF 22,680 annual wage (2026).
Private households only. Commercial businesses cannot use VAVplus.

What does this mean in practice?

For the vast majority of private households -- cleaner, babysitter, gardener with a part-time workload -- these limits are not an issue. The wage caps only affect full-time domestic staff.

Who Should Use VAVplus?

The decision is clear in most cases:

Ideal for

•Private household + employee earns less than CHF 22,680/year: VAVplus is the optimal solution. One procedure, one contact, the cheapest premiums.
•Existing VAV users: switch to VAVplus on January 1 to integrate UVG insurance and save on a separate policy.

Not suitable for

•Private household + employee earns more than CHF 22,680/year: you cannot use the simplified procedure. Register normally with the compensation office and arrange a separate UVG policy.
•Commercial business: VAVplus is not available. Use Suva (if your industry is assigned) or a licensed private UVG insurer.

VAVplus with Clino -- zero effort

Clino fully supports VAVplus. We calculate the correct UVG premiums, generate your payslips and remind you of all deadlines. For CHF 19.90/month -- everything included.

Get started

Quiz: Which UVG solution fits you?

4 questions help you find the right accident insurance for your household helper.

1. How many hours per week does your helper work for you?

2. Does your helper work for multiple employers?

3. How important is a simple setup without comparing quotes?

4. Does your helper already have private accident insurance?

Frequently Asked Questions about VAVplus

Is VAVplus available in all cantons?

Not yet everywhere. 19 of the 26 cantonal compensation offices offer VAVplus as an opt-in at registration (as of 2026). In the remaining seven cantons (UR, NE, FR, SH, AR, AI, GR), we found no way to bundle UVG through VAVplus -- there, you take out UVG insurance separately with a private accident insurer. Ask your compensation office, or Clino, whether VAVplus is offered where you are.

Can I keep my existing UVG insurer and still use VAVplus?

No. With VAVplus, UVG insurance runs exclusively through SOLIDA Versicherungen AG. An existing UVG policy must be cancelled before VAVplus can be activated.

What happens in case of an accident -- who do I contact?

In case of an accident, report it to your cantonal compensation office. They forward the report to SOLIDA. SOLIDA handles everything: medical costs, daily allowance and any pension benefits according to UVG.

Can I switch from VAV to VAVplus?

Yes. If you are already enrolled in the simplified procedure, you can switch to VAVplus from January 1 of the following year. Inform your compensation office before year-end. The deadline for switching is December 31.

Does VAVplus cover non-occupational accidents (NBU)?

Yes, if your employee works at least 8 hours per week for you. In that case, NBU insurance is automatically included through VAVplus/SOLIDA. Below 8 hours per week, leisure accidents are covered by the employee's health insurance (KVG).

Sources

AHV Information Sheet 2.07 -- Simplified Billing Procedure (ahv-iv.ch/p/2.07.d); for cantonal availability of VAVplus, the sheet refers employers to their own compensation office -- we checked this individually for all 26 cantons.
CHSS Article: New Simplified Billing Procedure Plus (sozialesicherheit.ch)
SVA St. Gallen -- Information on VAVplus
AK Basel-Stadt -- Simplified Procedure