Health insurance premiums rise again and burden many households
Published: Thursday, Sep 26th 2024, 18:50
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Health insurance premiums will rise by an average of six percent in 2025. This is likely to place a heavy burden on households with medium and low incomes. Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider is convinced that costs can be reduced without compromising quality. A number of proposals are on the table - from higher deductibles to better hospital planning. And on November 24, it will be up to the electorate to decide.
The average monthly premium will be CHF 378.70 next year, as announced by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) on Thursday. For adults, it will rise by 25.30 francs to 449.20 francs. Young adults will have to pay 16.10 francs more and thus 314.10 francs. For children, the average premium will rise by 6.50 francs to 117.90 francs. The differences between the cantons are enormous: the canton of Ticino leads the way with an increase of 10.5 percent. At the other end of the scale is Basel-Stadt with an increase of 1.5 percent.
The increase in premiums is due to rising health insurance costs. In the first half of 2024, costs rose again by 4.1% compared to the same period last year. In addition, inflation has also had an impact on rates since this year.
Due to the ageing population and new therapies and medicines, costs will continue to rise in the future. Switzerland has a very good healthcare system, Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told the media in Bern. And this system has its price. However, she is convinced "that it is possible to reduce costs without compromising quality". All players in the healthcare system and the insured themselves would have to contribute to this.
Healthcare system as a "cartel"
In initial reactions after the premiums were announced, representatives from the healthcare sector and politics expressed concern. The Foundation for Consumer Protection, for example, warned that the premiums were an enormous burden for households with low and medium incomes. They represented a health risk because more and more people were foregoing necessary treatment for financial reasons.
A number of proposals and demands for measures are now on the table. The hospital association H+ has called for immediate reforms and fair financing with cost-covering tariffs. The President of the Conference of Health Directors, centrist politician Lukas Engelberger, is backing supra-regional hospital planning. The health insurance association Santésuisse wants to introduce cost-cutting measures immediately, such as reducing the prices of medicines and laboratory analyses.
For the SP and the Greens, fairer financing with capped and solidarity-based premiums is necessary. The FDP, on the other hand, wants to strengthen alternative insurance models. The Centre Party criticized that the healthcare system has become a "cartel" in which the players cover for each other and prevent cost savings. The SVP did not wish to comment when asked on Thursday.
Emergency fee and digital dossier
Some proposals are already in the political process. For example, the Council of States approved a motion from the SVP on the very day the 2025 premiums were announced. It calls for an increase in the minimum deductible. In addition, the second cost-containment package is currently in parliament. This includes measures such as volume discounts on medicines that generate a lot of sales and the strengthening of coordinated healthcare.
The bill on the uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient healthcare services (Efas for short) will be put to the people on November 24. At present, inpatient treatment is paid for by the cantons and health insurers, while outpatient treatment is covered solely by the health insurers. The bill is intended to create an incentive for a shift from inpatient to outpatient treatment, which should lead to lower healthcare costs.
In addition, the SP wants to make another attempt at a public health insurance fund. This comes after voters rejected its premium relief initiative in June.
An emergency fee for visiting an emergency ward for minor cases is also being examined. In addition, digitalization in the healthcare sector is to be driven forward. This involves the Digisanté program on the one hand and the electronic patient file on the other. With these two approaches, the various healthcare players should be able to exchange data better with each other in order to avoid duplication and thus additional costs.
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