The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Swiss healthcare costs have already risen by 7.5% this year

swiss
© Keystone / Gaetan Bally

Santésuisse – the umbrella group for Swiss health insurers – has warned that health care costs have already risen by 7.5% per capita in the first two months of 2023. 

According to Santésuisse, rising drug costs and the large number of drugs prescribed are the main reasons for the rise in costs. 

“The result will be a further increase in premiums,” says Verena Nold, director of the health insurers’ association in an interview with SonntagsBlick.

+ Why Switzerland is running out of medicines

Nold is calling for treatments that have been shown to be of no benefit to be removed from the catalogue of services.

“If we want our system to be financeable in the long term, we must become more efficient. To achieve this, the cantons should apply strict criteria to hospitals and no longer allocate all the service mandates to every small hospital,” she said.

Health insurance premiums have jumped by an average of 6.6% between 2022 and 2023, in connection with the pandemic and catch-up effects. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the average premium for adults rose to CHF397.20 per month. The premium for young adults rose by 6.3% to CHF 279.90 per month while those for children rose by 5.5% to an average of CHF 105.

These rises are not sufficient to meet growing cost of healthcare, according to Nold.

“At some point, this will catch up with us. We should have already raised premiums by 10% by 2023,” she said.
 

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Ceasefire drives stock markets higher

More

Ceasefire drives stock markets higher

This content was published on The ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war has visibly eased tensions on the financial markets. The SMI, Switzerland's leading stock market index, has risen above the 12,000 point mark again.

Read more: Ceasefire drives stock markets higher
Swiss stick to tipping in cash

More

Swiss stick to tipping in cash

This content was published on The vast majority of Swiss people tip in restaurants – and preferably in cash. However, there are regional differences.

Read more: Swiss stick to tipping in cash
Call for caution due to risk of forest fires

More

Risk of forest fires in Geneva triggers warning

This content was published on Geneva, which is facing several days of very hot weather, has raised its level of vigilance with regard to the risk of forest fires and is issuing an appeal for caution.

Read more: Risk of forest fires in Geneva triggers warning
Tourists spent more last year

More

Tourist spending in Switzerland grew in 2024

This content was published on Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.

Read more: Tourist spending in Switzerland grew in 2024
Swiss population remains in a spending mood despite crises

More

Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive despite crises

This content was published on Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.

Read more: Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive despite crises
Bear kills four sheep near Scuol GR

More

Bear kills sheep in southeastern Switzerland

This content was published on A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden, last week. This was the first bear attack on local livestock in four years.

Read more: Bear kills sheep in southeastern Switzerland
Economists lower their expectations for economic growth in 2026

More

Swiss economists lower growth forecast for 2026

This content was published on Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than the forecasts made three months ago. They have also lowered their predictions for the current year.

Read more: Swiss economists lower growth forecast for 2026
Fewer and fewer people are attending religious events

More

Survey: more Swiss reject organised religion

This content was published on Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.

Read more: Survey: more Swiss reject organised religion

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR