Federal government cuts funds for disabled children and betrays parliament – in 3 points

The federal government has stopped IV benefits. This is evident from research by “NZZ am Sonntag”. Children and young people who are severely disabled due to congenital abnormalities and are therefore dependent on vital equipment are affected by the cut.

For years, disability insurance (IV) covered the rental of these devices, now the parents have to pay for them themselves – and are therefore in financial distress. According to the NZZ am Sonntag, in some cases this amounts to more than 10,000 francs per year.

This change appears to have happened without warning – and against the will of Parliament. An overview in three points.

In 2019, the IV was revised in parliament. The House supported many of the changes proposed by the Federal Council, except for one: benefits for children and youth with birth defects should not be limited by a list.

But Alain Berset’s (SP) domestic service did just that – according to the “NZZ am Sonntag” through a regulation over which Parliament has no say. From now on, the IV only pays what is on the so-called list of resources and devices (Migel).

Adults have been doing this for a long time. However, such an arrangement is not suitable for children, say experts with whom the “NZZ am Sonntag” spoke.

Politicians are angry. Central National Councilor Christian Lohr led the IV debate as spokesman for the commission in 2019 and says in the “NZZ am Sonntag”: “It is unacceptable for federal agencies to ask for parliamentary decisions.” It puzzled him where the Federal Council would get the power to make the restriction after the deletion of this article.

The reaction to the article on Sunday was fierce. Gerhard Pfister, national councilor and president of the center, tweeted: “How arrogant and anti-social can federal officials be against the will of parliament without consequence? Alain Berset needs to put that right right away. If you can decide billions for banks in four days, you need to that can.”

The responsible federal social insurance agency responded to a request from “NZZ am Sonntag” that it had not introduced a new list at all, but only expanded an existing one. The change in practice did not result in any performance limitations, contrary to certain claims. Only the companies “can no longer charge prices” but must adhere to the Migel rates. In individual cases this may mean that parents have to switch to another, cheaper provider.

But they didn’t really have time for that. And for Alex Fischer of Procap, that consideration is actually a misconception: cheaper companies would usually only make a partial offer, he says in the “NZZ am Sonntag”, and certain devices and services are not or insufficiently covered.

(lynn)