Numerous demands for reforms and cost reductions
Published: Thursday, Sep 26th 2024, 18:10
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The increase in health insurance premiums for 2025 is causing a broad echo in the healthcare sector and in politics. Reforms and cost-cutting measures are being called for from all sides. Some are even calling the premium increase a risk for the Swiss healthcare system.
The Foundation for Consumer Protection sees rising health insurance premiums as an enormous burden for households with low and medium incomes. The new prices would result in a health risk, as more and more people would forego necessary medical treatment for financial reasons. According to Consumer Protection, this will already be the case for a fifth of the Swiss population by 2023.
The Swiss Hospital Association H+ is concerned about the premium increase for 2025. The financial situation of hospitals and clinics is constantly deteriorating, which is why effective and immediate reforms are necessary. This was announced by the association on Thursday. Without fair financing with cost-covering tariffs, the hospitals would not be able to maintain their usual range of services.
All players have a duty
The SPO patient organization sees the problem with the profiteers of the system. They have a great incentive to provide as many services as possible, but no transparency about the benefits these have for patients. Too many would earn money from this system, and premium payers would suffer as a result.
"The healthcare system has become a cartel in which the players cover for each other and prevent cost savings," Center President Gerhard Pfister was quoted as saying on X. The costs are exploding because the healthcare system is incapable of reforming itself.
As President of the Conference of Cantonal Health Directors, Lukas Engelberger (center) believes that all players in the healthcare sector have a duty. He is pragmatic about the premium increase. In principle, the development of premiums follows the development of costs, the Basel health director told the Keystone-SDA news agency after the figures were announced on Thursday. "In order to reduce the premium burden, cost growth must therefore also be contained."
Engelberger described the upcoming vote on the regulation of uniform funding for outpatient and inpatient services, which the cantons support, as an opportunity to curb healthcare costs. "Among other things, uniform funding would remove obstacles to the cost-reducing shift from inpatient to outpatient care."
Cost-cutting measures required
"The premium increase of six percent is very painful for the insured, which is why it is very important to introduce cost-cutting measures immediately, such as reducing the prices of medicines and laboratory analyses and supra-regional hospital planning," said Verena Nold, Director of the health insurance association Santésuisse, on request.
According to the industry association Curafutura, there is great potential for savings with uniform financing. This would accelerate the shift to the outpatient sector, where operations and treatments cost less than in the inpatient sector. This would lead to greater comfort for patients while maintaining the same level of quality.
For the Swiss Medical Association FMH, the increase in premiums is not necessary. According to the association, reforms already in place could curb the rise in premiums. The FMH is also in favor of uniform financing.
Left want fairer financing
The SP and the Greens want fairer financing of health insurance. For the Social Democrats, it is clear that premiums must be capped and financed on a more solidarity basis in order to protect the purchasing power of people in Switzerland. The Greens are calling for the introduction of health insurance premiums based on income and assets. This would eliminate the unfair system of per capita premiums.
The FDP does not think much of the redistribution of money. This is harmful for all taxpayers, the party wrote in a communiqué. The personal responsibility of citizens should not always be undermined by new regulations and nationalization. The FDP wants to strengthen alternative insurance models and is also focusing on uniform financing.
The SVP did not comment on the premium increases when asked.
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