In fact, the premium of 1.2 % replaces the standard premium and thus replaces annual increases of around 3.5 % (since 2008). Since the values of 2018 and 2019 are therefore less easy to compare, the question arises whether the premiums of the health insurance companies will again increase by 3 % next year.
Why are there health premiums in Switzerland?
Since according to the Swiss health system, people living in Switzerland must take out mandatory basic insurance, they have to pay a monthly premium. The health insurance companies adjust these premiums annually to the following year, which means that insured persons have the right to switch to a cheaper provider at the end of the year. Therefore, towards the end of the year it is worthwhile for everyone Comparison of health insurance companies in Switzerland.
However, these premiums must not be set arbitrarily, but must be approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).
To determine the amount of the premium, it is necessary that the Swiss health insurance companies disclose their forecasts and finances. Only then can the FOPH determine the economic viability of the health insurance company.
What happens to the rewards?
The individual cantons of Switzerland are to be assessed as individual premium regions, which is why each canton has to post its own premium increase. The individual situation of each health insurance company is taken into account, including regional differences with regard to the insured. The Swiss health insurance companies use the premiums to finance the services they provide.
Benefits financed by health insurance premiums:
- Administrative expenses,
- Salaries of employees
- Accruals.
For more information, the BAG has an information sheet on the subject of what happens to the premiums? created.
Increase in premiums compared to that of health insurance companies
Due to demographic change and medical and technical progress, the average cost of the premiums will continue to rise. The medical services are also increasing in volume, for which the FOPH cannot determine any medical reason.
The Santésuisse health insurance association recently announced an outlook for cost growth in the Swiss healthcare system of around 3 %. Even an increase of 5 % has been loud in some areas.
According to Santésuisse, however, the health insurance premiums will rise less. Where there was a 1.2 % increase in 2019, it will probably not exceed 3 % increase in the next year, although an increase will be noticeable. The reason for this are the reserves that health insurance companies have created in recent years.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
1% | 1,2% | less than 3% |
Outlook: countermeasures and savings proposals
The calls for countermeasures to the ever increasing costs for health insurance for the insured are louder than ever. There are suggestions, but implementation is the real problem, said Santésuisse director Verena Nold in Bern recently. The suggestions include lower sales margins and a reference price system.
An annual comparison of drug prices between abroad and Switzerland is also required. The suggestion that patients could order medicines more cheaply abroad and have the costs reimbursed by the Swiss health insurances was not pursued. Although the premiums will increase by less than 3 % in 2020, increases of 5 % to 6 % can be expected in areas such as physiotherapy and Spitex.
Conclusion
It has been confirmed that the increase in the cost of Health insurance premiums 2020 has nowhere near reached the 3 percent mark. On the contrary: on average, the premiums for health insurance only rose by 0.2 percent. However, considerable differences were found between individual cantons.
One of the most important reasons for this tendency is the different constellation of the state of health and the local age structure of the population. As a result, residents of the cantons of Basel, Geneva and Vaud are asked to pay the most.
In contrast, the premiums are lowest in Uri, Nidwalden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. In general, the average premium is reduced in a total of ten cantons from Switzerland.
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