The FDP’s “budget” health insurance company is in a difficult position: new ideas collide with old concerns

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It is yet another attempt to finally get the sky-high healthcare costs under control. Because the next premium shock is already lurking in the autumn. The FDP now wants to try a “light” insurance model: mandatory generic drugs, higher deductibles, mandatory e-patient record. Those who opt for restrictions on basic insurance should pay less, reports the “SonntagsBlick”.

The existing system would be radically turned inside out. The proposal is contrary to the solidarity principle in healthcare, says Susanne Gedamke of the Patient Organization Foundation. Today, the healthy help fund the sick.

Nevertheless, the FDP is convinced of its budget variant as an alternative to the compulsory basic insurance. Today, insured persons would pay a lump sum even if they did not receive all benefits, says Andri Silberschmidt, National Councilor of the FDP (29). The FDP therefore prefers an individual selection of services.

The costs are too high, but only the others have to save

That sounds reasonable at first. But there’s a catch: For Mr. and Mrs. Schweizer, reducing the supply of health services is not up for discussion. This is evident from the Health Monitor 2023, which was published at the end of June by research institute gfs.bern on behalf of industry association Interpharma.

The crux of the matter: the respondents get entangled in contradictions. On the one hand, the constantly rising premiums are causing more and more headaches. On the other hand, the demands remain high. The electorate rejects a pure focus on healthcare costs with no regard for quality.

This is illustrated, for example, by the question of whether the original drug or a counterfeit product is bought when the patient is free to choose: 57 percent prefer the more expensive original. In 2015, this was slightly less at 52 percent.

Parties try to score

A dilemma remains. In the SRG’s latest electoral barometer, healthcare premiums rank second among the top political challenges, just behind climate change. However, if the population is not prepared to save on their own health, it is almost impossible to find solutions that can achieve a majority.

And yet, especially in the election year, the parties try to score points in health policy. The parliament is currently focusing on two popular initiatives: the center’s cost control initiative wants the federal government and the cantons to intervene if healthcare costs rise too much compared to wage developments. However, Parliament is still struggling to come up with concrete measures.

Similar to the SP’s premium relief initiative. It states that insured persons must spend a maximum of ten percent of their disposable income on health care premiums. This must be achieved with additional premium reductions by the federal government and the cantons. However, this would not save costs, but would only pump more taxpayers’ money into the health care system.

It just seems to be about fighting the symptoms

Concrete austerity proposals, on the other hand, have so far largely failed in parliament. Lobby pressure from doctors, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals regularly has an effect. They consistently fight anything that could reduce their income. Since nothing works on the cost side, the only ‘prescription’ against the rising premiums seems to be symptomatic relief through additional price reductions.

Because at the latest when the cantons have to spend more money, they feel compelled to take action where they can: with the approval of doctors or overcapacity in hospitals. Until then, however, hardly anyone has an interest in pushing through unattractive cost-cutting measures. Especially in an election year.

Source:Blick