Nationality of insured persons is not statistically recorded
Published: Thursday, May 30th 2024, 11:20
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The nationality of foreign insured persons should not be made available to health insurance companies. This was decided by the National Council after the Council of States. The two chambers had already decided in February to include foreigners in the risk equalization system for health insurance.
On the recommendation of the majority of its Social Security and Health Committee, the National Council voted 126 to 24 in favor of not collecting the nationality of insured persons. Originally, the upper chamber wanted to collect the nationality of insured persons when granting benefits under compulsory health insurance and for premium reductions. The Council of States rejected this.
From the point of view of supporters in the National Council, collecting this data could have led to greater transparency in the use of healthcare services. "How are we supposed to take targeted measures if we have no statistical basis?" said Thomas de Courten (SVP/BL), for example.
Barbara Gysi (SP/SG) argued that there was no point in knowing nationality. It is more relevant to know the occupation or gender when it comes to the effects on health.
Even though the Council followed the majority of the Commission on this point, the bill went back to the Council of States. The National Council had tacitly added an editorial clarification.
With the revision of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), the Federal Council aims to strengthen solidarity in compulsory health insurance by including insured persons living abroad who are insured in Switzerland in the risk equalization scheme. The revision of the law also provides for a simplified exchange of data between insurers and the cantons so that they can fulfill their respective tasks more easily.
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