Centre-left political parties, trade unions and consumer groups have launched a new initiative for a single health insurance company in order to cut costs.
Under the proposal, one public company would offer compulsory basic insurance, campaigners said on Monday.
“The current system with more than 80 providers is costly, bureaucratic, lacks transparency and is no longer capable of a quality health service,” said Erika Ziltener, head of the initiative’s committee.
It is estimated that a single insurance would lead to a “decrease of several percentages in premiums” and help stabilise costs.
Campaigners are optimistic that voters will support the initiative, despite the rejection of similar proposal at the ballot box four years ago.
“People see the problems of rising costs more clearly now and we do not propose the introduction of premiums based on income and wealth,” said Social Democratic parliamentarian Marina Carobbio.
Campaigners have 18 months to collect at least 100,000 signatures to force a nationwide vote. The initiative is part of the Social Democrat election platform for next October.
Another initiative, launched by a group of doctors, is also underway to separate basic and complementary insurance.
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.
Read more
More
Consumers worried by health costs and alcohol
This content was published on
A survey had shown that for the fourth year in a row concerns about increasing health costs are foremost on people’s minds, the forum said on Friday. The poll was carried out among 1,000 people in December. Alcohol abuse by young people and youth violence as well as “aggressive advertising” and “questionable business practices on…
This content was published on
Sunday’s ballot was the latest in a series of attempts to cut rising costs and ease the financial burden on citizens. Final results showed 71 per cent of voters rejected the reform. Turnout was close to 46 per cent, slightly above average. As expected, voters in the main German-speaking part of the country turned down…
This content was published on
The move is part of a larger package of measures aimed at stemming the rise in health costs. “Everyone says that the Swiss health system is a good one, but it is in danger,” said Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, as he announced the plans on Wednesday. In 2008 the costs associated with obligatory health insurance…
This content was published on
The campaign ahead of the June 1 ballot and the proposal itself have left many citizens puzzled and experts guessing about the impact of the overhaul. On the face of it the proposal, approved by parliament, is straightforward. It aims at more transparency and competition in health matters. “The constitutional amendment gives a broad outline…
This content was published on
According to the Santésuisse health insurance association, 150,000 people have already been suspended due to non-payment of premiums and are only eligible for emergency treatment. Some 400,000 are additionally facing claims by their insurance companies and risk losing their insurance coverage. A patient with suspected cancer cannot be admitted to hospital for tests; an operation…
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.