Exclusive research ‘This is how Switzerland thinks’ shows: the Swiss want a revolution in health insurance

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The Swiss are no longer prepared to pay such high health insurance premiums. This is evident from a representative study conducted by the Sotomo research institute on behalf of Blick. A clear majority of respondents would therefore like to see the so-called premium abolished.

As many as 57 percent want an income-related premium: those who earn a lot should pay a higher premium than someone with a low income. The idea is not only well received on the left spectrum: centrist voters (55 percent) and GLP supporters (54 percent) also say yes to it, and even every second SVP sympathizer can warm to it.

This is intended to ease the burden on families

It is further evidence of how much health insurance premiums are putting pressure on Swiss households, right up to the middle class: according to the Family Barometer 2024, income for 52 percent of families in Switzerland is barely enough or not at all, and here too the largest budget items : premium burden, rent, childcare.

According to the Sotomo study, these are the areas where measures to ease the burden on families are most urgently needed, with health insurance premiums significantly higher. 66 percent of the 6,066 voters surveyed from German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland believe that relief is most urgently needed here, ahead of cheaper housing and tax relief.

“This shows once again that healthcare costs are really a building site for which politicians must find real and sustainable solutions,” says political scientist Sarah Bütikofer of Sotomo.

And the population is aware that families are particularly challenged: a majority of Swiss think that families are even worse off financially than pensioners, to whom the electorate has just awarded a 13th AHV pension. The younger the respondents, the more they agree with this.

Political scientist Bütikofer is not surprised: there are big differences between retirees, from very rich to poor. “Young families are all heavily burdened – they need a bigger apartment, have to pay higher premiums and childcare, and perhaps more taxes after the wedding.”

Majorities in favor of health insurance initiatives

On June 9, the Swiss have the opportunity to at least reduce healthcare costs: on the one hand, they will vote on the SP’s premium waiver initiative. This requires that no household has to transfer more than ten percent of its income to the health insurer. The Center Party’s second initiative focuses on the ever-rising healthcare costs. She advocates a cost brake if costs – and therefore premiums – rise excessively.

And this is what it will look like in the future: After an average increase of 8.7 percent this year, another premium shock is expected in 2025: According to health insurer Santésuisse, costs have already increased by 6 in the first months of this year, increased by 7 percent. In this respect, it is not surprising that corresponding polls currently assume that after the yes to the 13th AHV pension, there will also be a yes to more premium reductions.

Source:Blick