Premiums dependent on income?: Federal Council does not believe in the health insurance revolution

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The Swiss want a revolution in health insurance. A clear majority of respondents support the abolition of the so-called premium, according to a representative study conducted by the Sotomo research institute on behalf of Blick. 57 percent would prefer an income-related premium: those who earn a lot should pay a higher premium than someone with a low income.

Last year, Green National Councilor Manuela Weichelt (56) and State Councilor Maya Graf (62) submitted proposals to parliament that would allow income- and asset-related health insurance premiums. “Nowadays a billionaire pays the same amount for basic insurance as a Migros saleswoman. “That is absurd,” Weichelt told Blick at the time. The model is already being used in Germany.

The Federal Council wants to strengthen the premium reductions

But the Federal Council rejected both proposals. People are aware that premium pressure is a problem for parts of the population. However, there are individual premium reductions that can help. The Federal Council would prefer to strengthen this and refers to the counter-proposal to the SP’s bonus initiative. “This should ensure that the premium burden remains affordable for economically weaker sections of the population.” The Federal Council has already proposed several cost-saving measures to Parliament. According to the Federal Council’s statement, income-related premiums would probably also lead to additional administrative work.

There was also a lot of opposition in the Council of States, where Graf’s proposal was discussed last December. With this ‘revolutionary approach’, as FDP State Councilor Josef Dittli (66) called it in the council, a large part of the population would no longer pay very little or no premiums. This could lead to people using more healthcare services. “But it cannot be the intention to run to the doctor, because every ‘Bobo’ no longer pays premiums,” says Dittli. Much of the current health care system is already funded by taxpayer dollars – “primarily through income and wealth taxes” – as Dittli notes.

In the Council of States, there were no votes outside Left-Green for Graf’s proposal. It is different with the population. Centrist voters (55 percent) and GLP supporters (54 percent) also say yes to it, and even every second SVP sympathizer can warm up to it. However, the question remains whether this will actually be introduced in the coming years. (brother)

Source:Blick