Wave of phone calls after premium increase – now the politicians have had enough: the telephone terror of the health insurers has begun

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Lisa B.* from Bern was initially surprised by the calls. Then Green got annoyed. “I have been called several times by a French-speaking woman in recent days,” she tells Blick. “She really wanted to come to my house in the evening to talk about my health insurance, because another premium increase was coming.” Lisa B. was particularly annoyed that the woman not only knew where she lived, but also with which health insurer she was insured. “She was very pushy and even became aggressive when I refused several times.”

Lisa B. is not alone in her frustration. Unwanted calls are always annoying. Especially if you change health insurance in the autumn. Insurance brokers then experience a boom. Especially if Health Minister Alain Berset (51) announces another significant premium increase next Tuesday.

Parliament has been concerned about this issue for years

Politicians are also not spared from this. In the Federal Palace, several parliamentarians also complained about telephone terror. SP national councilor Sarah Wyss (35) recently complained about the constant intimidation on the short message service X.

This issue has been preoccupying Parliament for years. The commissions paid to intermediaries are part of the insurer’s administrative costs and drive up health care premiums. So-called cold calling would actually be prohibited, that is, advertising calls without the person being called having shown interest in it.

Parliamentarians are calling for further action

A year ago, parliament passed a law intended to more strictly regulate brokerage activities. But this is not yet in force. Furthermore, despite the sector’s stated intention to put an end to this nuisance, little has changed. Not all health insurers have even signed the corresponding agreement. Fueled by the increase in premiums, there are now fears of a new wave of telephone terror in Federal Bern.

SVP Council Member Benjamin Giezendanner (41) has already announced a motion to put an end to the real estate agent principle. Mediation with health insurers in basic and supplementary insurance should be prohibited. SP state councilor Barbara Gysi (59) also believes that voluntary sector agreements are of course pointless.

However, the Federal Council is very cautious and points out that Parliament did not want a binding agreement for insurers. That is why the government does not want to take action: “Any impetus to further tighten regulations should come from parliament.”

Santésuisse refers to the upcoming law

Only at the beginning of this month did health insurers weaken their industry agreement for insurance brokers. Yet the Santésuisse trade association is calm: “We are confident that the new legal provisions are so effective that unsolicited telephone calls will also be postponed in the future,” explains Santésuisse spokesperson Matthias Müller.

However, experts doubt the industry agreement. It is full of holes and is not legally binding, says Felix Schneuwly (63), health insurance expert at comparison service Comparis.

There is also dissatisfaction in parliament. “The weakening of the industry agreement is no coincidence, as large premium surcharges for health insurance are expected this autumn,” says Nadine Masshardt (38), MP and chairman of the SP Consumer Protection. Because the Federal Council does not want to do anything, it is clear: “Parliament must now act itself.”

* Name of the editor known

Source:Blick