Cost explosion continues: “Health insurance premiums may increase by 5 percent”

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Swiss households should also expect a significant increase in health insurance premiums next year. According to the “20 Minutes” report, health expenditures increased by 6.7 percent in January and February compared to the previous year. In two months, 7 billion francs were billed for medicines, hospitalizations, treatments and other health services. The data comes from Sasis AG, part of the Santésuisse group. The increase per capita was slightly lower at 5.7 percent. The main reason for this is the migration of young people who, on average, use fewer health services.

Everything points to the third consecutive major increase in premiums. This year, health insurance premiums for basic coverage have already increased by an average of 8.7 percent across Switzerland. It increased by 6.6 percent in 2023.

Huge cost increases in French-speaking Switzerland

In western Switzerland, the premium club could be hit particularly hard in 2025: costs increased by 9.3 percent in Geneva, 10.7 percent in Vaud and even over 12 percent in Neuchâtel, according to Sasis data. However, healthcare costs also increased by 10.1 percent in Zurich and 9 percent in Schwyz in January and February.

In comparison, the increases are significantly lower in Bern (2.9 percent), Lucerne (2.9), Aarau (1.9) and Uri (1.3). In fact, costs fell by 0.4 percent in Grisons.

So how meaningful are the data for January and February for the whole year? “The cost increase is slightly higher at the beginning of the year,” says health insurance expert Felix Schneuwly (63) from Comparis. The main reason for this is that 2023 invoices will still be sent in the spring. “Treatment timing may actually be about defining years,” says Schneuwly.

Comparison expert expects five percent

However, the increase in costs already shows what premium payers will face next year. “I estimate that health insurance premiums will increase by around 5 percent again next year,” the expert said. He attributes the cost explosion in recent years to the compensation effect after the corona epidemic and also to the growing group of older people. It is also notable that costs for boys have increased disproportionately, although total costs are of course significantly below average.

What angers Schneuwly: In 2019, 2020 and 2021, health insurance premiums rose less than costs, on average. “They had larger reserves back then to offset cost fluctuations. But the federal government has forced health insurance companies to reduce their reserves many times in the past. So we now have a situation where fluctuations in premiums are greater than fluctuations in costs.

Source :Blick