Health insurance dispute: Council of States favors compromise on premium discount

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The costs of health care are a headache for many Swiss people. Politicians agree: things cannot go on like this. The House of Representatives has long been debating which recipe should be used to counteract cost increases.

The Social Democrats have chosen the path of a waiver initiative. The SP demands that the health care premium may not exceed 10 percent of disposable income. Estimated cost: 4.5 billion francs per year. The federal government should bear two-thirds of this, the cantons the rest.

The Bundesrat thinks that is far too much. He has therefore formulated a counter-proposal costing 500 million francs. The cantons should spend more. After all, they are responsible for the rising healthcare costs, according to the cabinet.

SVP closed against submission

On Tuesday, the Council of States discussed the indirect counter-proposal to the premium deduction initiative for the second time.

The amendment to the law drawn up by the competent committee of the Council of States stipulates that the cantons must now spend at least 3.5 to 7.5 percent of the cantonal costs of the basic insurance on the premium reduction. The Bundesrat wants to set the threshold at 5 to 7.5 percent.

In both variants, the minimum rate depends on how much the premiums weigh on the budget of the 40 percent of the lowest income insured. With the variant of the Council of States, the cantons would incur additional costs of CHF 356 million. With the Bundesrat’s proposal, that would be CHF 493 million.

Thanks to the middle

The Council of States now proceeded to the compromise, with 24 votes in favour, 16 against and 2 abstentions. He had rejected that in the winter session. The turnaround is mainly due to the center party: only two of the 14 members of the Council of States rejected the proposal. The SVP voted unanimously against, the FDP was divided. (she)

Source:Blick