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This appointment already gives Alain Berset (51) a stomach ache. As one of his last official acts, the Minister of Health will announce a substantial increase in health care premiums for the second time in a row in the autumn: basic insurance is expected to become 6 percent more expensive on average. It becomes critical for families and small and medium-sized businesses who cannot take advantage of premium discounts.
This is also apparent from the latest election barometer of the SRG. There, health insurance premiums rank second among the top political challenges, just behind climate change and far ahead of immigration. No wonder the parties are trying to score points in the election campaign with initiatives in the field of health policy: the SP with the premium discount initiative, the center with a cost control initiative.
And the FDP? She advocates a new ‘budget’ insurance model as an alternative to compulsory basic insurance (OKP) and wants to radically change the system. A parliamentary motion tabled by Freisinn in the summer session states: “The Bundesrat is asked to submit a proposal to the Federal Assembly to amend all relevant laws and regulations in such a way that the introduction of a health insurance model with very low premiums is made possible. »
Andri Silberschmidt (29), National Councilor of the FDP from Zurich, puts it more simply: “Water instead of champagne.” Today there is an all-you-can-eat system. You pay a fixed price, but you can consume everything. But there are people who don’t want that at all. They want to create an alternative for them: a menu “à la carte”. This “light” basic insurance must become at least a quarter cheaper.
doctor visit abroad
If you choose this model, you voluntarily accept compromises. About the drugs. If there is a generic product, you are not entitled to the more expensive original product. The electronic patient file should be mandatory for health insurer Budget. Those who do without acupuncture, TCM and homeopathy enjoy discounts. The same applies to anyone who increases their maximum deductible by CHF 1,000 to CHF 3,500. Moreover, only consultations of doctors who meet certain quality criteria would be reimbursed – even abroad if necessary.
Policyholders with a slimmed-down basic insurance would enter into long-term contracts with health insurers. Silberschmidt is convinced that if the provider no longer has to expect policyholders to cancel soon, they will invest more in their health. “In our model, the insurer can finance therapies that are only allowed to have an effect after three years.” That pays off for both sides.
The FDP proposal met with resistance from the SP. “I warn against a radical system change,” says Flavia Wasserfallen (44). Today, the healthy financed the less healthy, according to the SP health politician: “If we break this principle, the chronically ill will be under the wheels.”
Many of the criteria that a “budget” health insurance company would meet have already been implemented in alternative insurance models or are being planned. For example, the Health Committee of the National Council approved multi-year contractual relationships in basic insurance.
CHF 3,500 excess too high
Wasserfallen also thinks that increasing the maximum deductible is not a good idea. Participation of patients in healthcare costs is already extremely high. “A pain threshold has been reached.” The Bernese National Council would rather use the leverage to tackle false incentives and preventive measures: “Sometimes too much or unnecessary intervention is done and too little is done to prevent disease.”
A “light” basic insurance policy, as envisaged by the FDP, would contain costs by penalizing patients. Wasserfallen: “We don’t.”
The fact is: since the year 2000, the average monthly premium per capita has more than doubled. A Sotomo study commissioned by Santésuisse in the autumn concluded: “When it comes to measures to combat the rising cost of living, the Swiss public sees no greater need for action in politics than with the premium burden.”
Respondents approved all proposals against premium growth of at least 70 percent. The obligation to use generic medicines was particularly well received. There was also broad consensus on the obligation of the cantons to improve coordination between hospitals. Doctors who repeatedly incur inexplicable costs should be removed from funding.
The FDP proposal will be closely scrutinized in the Health Committee, says Bernese GLP National Councilor Melanie Mettler (45). “What nobody wants is two-class medicine.” Mettler sees the main reason for rising premiums in oversupply – responsible for this are false incentives and the lack of information sharing between the service providers. Today, talking to a patient to reduce anxiety about treatment would be paid much less than computed tomography. “A complete system change is not necessary to get healthcare costs under control.”
Insurance companies not thrilled
Insurers who should include a budget model in their offer are also sceptical. Santésuisse spokesperson Matthias Müller: “Uniform access for all insured persons to all basic insurance policies is a social achievement that we must preserve.” It is much more important to reduce the oversupply that exists in many places, to exclude ineffective services and to reduce excessive prices of medicines, for example: “This will allow us to keep the current range affordable.” After all, insurers already offer different models with a limited choice of service providers and corresponding discounts.
Undeterred by this debate, FDP man Silberschmidt points to representative studies according to which a majority of policyholders in German-speaking Switzerland want such budget models and are quite willing to streamline their basic care – provided the resulting savings result in lower premiums knocking down .
Silberschmidt: “Nowadays everyone is obliged to purchase a 1st class GA travel card for basic insurance, even though they rarely take the train. But people should also be able to buy a 2nd class GA.”
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
