Sickness Insurance (loss of wages) (ZV)

The objective of this insurance is that employees with an income under the maximum wage limit are insured for the costs of medical care and loss of income as a consequence of sickness. Formation of a fund takes place by means of payment of premiums by the employer (1.9% of the wage of the employee). Certain groups of employees, for example government officials and temporary workers, are excluded from this insurance.

1. When are you insured?

When you work for an employer or carry out contract work 5 or 6 days weekly and your wages do not exceed the wage limit.

2. What should you do when you are ill?

The employee must report sick online on the first (1st) day he/she is unfit to work between 5 a.m. to 10 o’clock a.m.: https://svbcur.org/en/.

Please follow all instructions online. Pursuant to the ZV-law, the SVB will not pay loss of wages over the first three (3) days of sickness (AO).

3. Unfitness for work after the first three days is determined by the SVB examining doctor.

If the employee is still unfit for work on the 4th day, he/she must report sick online again https://svbcur.org/en/  between 5 a.m. and 10 o’clock in the morning. Employee must choose option (4th day). The SVB will call the employee the same day between 7.30 and 5 p.m. The employee must be available during these hours. If the SVB doesn’t call, the employee must call the day after between 7.30 and 12.00 on 0800-0010 (free) or 434-4123.

If the employee is not available, he/she will not be entitled to the sickness insurance benefit.

4. What are your rights when you are ill?

You are entitled to sickness insurance benefits, if you comply with the regulations.

5. When are you unfit for work?

When, due to illness, you are unable to work during a 24-hour period or longer. When you are temporarily unable to work because of a necessary medical examination; When you are not allowed to go to work in order to prevent the infection of others.

6. From whom do you receive your sickness insurance benefit when you are unfit for work?

During your employment your employer must pay you the sickness insurance benefit on the day that you normally receive your wages.

7. As of what day are you entitled to sick pay?

For the day on which the illness is reported and the two subsequent days the sickness insurance pay is also paid, if, in the judgment of the medical attendant, the illness makes admission to a hospital necessary. If, as of the third day after the illness is reported, you are unfit for work as a result of sickness. The sickness benefit is also paid if, due to the same cause, the illness lasts for more than three days (also when admission to a hospital is not necessary). In the case of pregnancy the employee is entitled to sickness insurance benefit during the 7 weeks preceding the expected date of delivery and 7 weeks following delivery (maternity leave).

8. What is the amount of sickness insurance benefit?

The percentage of loss of wages is 80% of the daily wages, irrespective of the breadwinner’s position, civil status and stay in hospital.