Suva: an overview

Suva: an overview

Active since 1918, Suva has a total workforce of around 3,000 employees working at its head office in Lucerne, at its 2 rehabilitation clinics in Bellikon and Sion and at its 18 agencies throughout Switzerland. A financially independent body incorporated under public law, Suva insures around 116,000 companies and 2 million employees and unemployed people respectively against the consequences of accidents and occupational diseases. Its range of services encompasses prevention, insurance and rehabilitation and it is also responsible for military insurance by government mandate. Generating premiums to the approximate amount of CHF4.3bn, Suva is self-supporting, operates without any state subsidies and its profits go to the benefit of its insurees in the form of lower premiums. Suva’s social partners – employers and employees – are represented on the Board of Directors, as is the Swiss federal government.

Prevention, insurance and rehabilitation

Suva’s three core business areas are prevention, insurance and rehabilitation. For the purpose of rehabilitation, Suva has its own clinics in Bellikon(The link will open in a new window)   and Sion(The link will open in a new window)  .

Suva communicates this wide range of services under the following brands:

  • SuvaPro (occupational safety)
  • SuvaLiv (leisuretime safety)
  • SuvaRisk (premiums and capital investment)
  • SuvaCare (claims management and rehabilitation).

Board of Directors

Suva’s Board of Directors is composed of:

  • 16 representatives of the employees
  • 16 representatives of the employers
  • 8 representatives of the Swiss Confederation

The Suva model

  • Suva is more than just an insurance company: it combines prevention, insurance and rehabilitation.
  • Suva is managed by the social partners. The balanced composition of its Board of Directors, which is composed of representatives of the employers, employees and the Swiss Confederation enables it to find sustainable solutions that meet with wide acceptance.
  • Suva returns any profits to its insurees in the shape of lower premiums.
  • Suva is self-supporting; it does not receive any state subsidies.