Sat, Mar 16th 2024
Groupe Mutuel’s CEO Thomas Boyer discusses the possibility of leaving Santésuisse, advocating for unity in health associations for the benefit of premium payers.
Switzerland’s third-largest health insurer, Groupe Mutuel, is considering leaving the health insurance association Santésuisse, according to its CEO Thomas Boyer. He told the newspaper “Le Temps” on Saturday that it was important for there to be only one association.
Today, there are two umbrella organisations – Santésuisse and Curafutura – that are in opposition to each other and approach parliament in different ways. In the current situation, competition is not appropriate. Groupe Mutuel has a market share of around 10 to 15%.
At the end of last year, the Bernese health insurer KPT announced its withdrawal from Curafutura. Boyer can imagine Groupe Mutuel leaving the rival association in order to put pressure on this situation.
The Groupe Mutuel boss reiterated his rejection of a single health insurance fund in the fight against rising premium costs. They would be deprived of the only means of optimising their premiums a little.
The introduction of a single health insurance fund has been rejected twice in referendums. However, according to a survey by Ipsos Switzerland, 60% of the population were in favour of such a radical system change.
According to Boyer, a change of system would achieve little, as it would only address 5% of the costs in the healthcare system. In his opinion, the catalog of services should be restricted, hospital planning should be reconsidered and the attractiveness of the profession of general practitioner should be increased.
For Boyer, who earns over 700,000 francs a year, a reduction in management salaries is out of the question. He argued that such an adjustment would mean a reduction in premiums of just four cents per month.
©Keystone/SDA
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