A large survey by Watson shows: A clear majority wants uniform health insurance

The Swiss population has to dig deeper into their wallets for health insurers. In 2024, premiums will probably increase by up to ten percent. The cost of health care is therefore one of the most important topics in the election campaign in the fall. Research by Watson now shows that the population is tired of rising costs and wants to change the system.

Together with social research institute DemoSCOPE, Watson wanted to find out what the population thinks of the health insurance policies of the various parties. The survey, representative of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland, was conducted between August 29 and September 1, with 9178 participants (more on the methodology at the end of the article).

It cannot continue as before – that is the opinion of an overwhelming majority of those questioned. 88 percent of the population is (rather) in favor of reforming the health insurance system.

The question arises as to how the system should be reformed – and here too the research yielded interesting results.

What the population does not want is the abolition of compulsory health insurance – a clear rejection of the considerations of Zurich health director Natalie Rickli. The SVP politician said in an interview with the Sunday newspaper: “We should consider abolishing compulsory health insurance.”

77 percent of those surveyed want to (or tend to) comply with the obligation. For only 22 percent, abolition is an option.

The obligation has the support of all political camps. Even the study participants close to the SVP want to adhere to it; 54 percent are (rather) in favor of complying with the obligation. The FDP voters also support the obligation. With the basis of the GLP, Mitte, SP and Grünen, the matter is more than clear: the obligation must remain.

The FDP goes one step less. That is why she turned to a cheap health insurer this summer. There the benefits are lowered, but the premiums are lower.

The proposal of the FDP does not fall entirely on deaf ears: at least 40 percent of the respondents can (prefer) imagine the budget health insurance fund. However, 55 percent are (quite) against it.

The budget health insurance fund even finds a majority among the survey participants who are close to the FDP: 59 percent are (rather) in favour. A majority of the SVP base is (rather) for the budget health insurance fund (55 percent). The voters of the other parties reject the proposal.

Let’s move on to the proposals that are popular with the public. A majority of the respondents believe that health insurance premiums should depend on income. 63 percent answered the corresponding question with ‘yes’ or ‘rather yes’. If the majority of the population has their way, those who earn more will have to pay more in premiums.

That is also what the Green National Councilor Manuela Weichelt wants. “Nowadays a billionaire pays as much for basic insurance as a Migros saleswoman. That is absurd,” she told Blick. In June of this year, she introduced a corresponding motion. The Federal Council reacted negatively, referring to the individual premium reduction, which should be promoted instead.

Limiting premiums is also popular. The SP demands this with its premium waiver initiative. Therefore, no household should spend more than ten percent of its disposable income on health insurance premiums.

Remarkable: both supporters of the FDP and the SVP support the cap. 50 percent of the FDP base (previously) is for the cost cap and 46 percent (previously) against it. 59 percent of SVP voters are (reasonably) in favour. The support of the other parties is even greater.

In 2014, the Swiss electorate clearly rejected a unified health insurer. At the time, 62 percent voted against. Now the tide could have turned. According to the Watson survey, 79 percent of the population support the introduction of a unified health insurance fund that would give everyone the same basic insurance.

The united health insurance fund is not only popular in left-wing circles. The voters from the bourgeois camp also support the idea. Even the FDP base is (earlier) at 58 percent.

In 2017 there was already a survey about one health insurance fund. At the time, about two-thirds of the population said they supported it. As the Watson study shows, the common health insurance fund has become even more popular over the past six years.

The discussions about a unified health insurance fund should now get going again. About ten days ago, the SP decided at the delegation meeting to launch a new initiative in this area.

Despite the clear figures from the polls, it is uncertain whether the unified health insurance fund will find a majority at the ballot box. Even before the vote in 2014, there was a yes trend. In the end, however, the rejection was relatively clear.