Rates for young people to rise 11%
Health insurance premiums to increase
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The average increase for Swiss health insurance premiums in 2011 will be 6.5 percent, although most French-speaking cantons will see smaller increases than the rest of the country, under 6 percent.
Overall, the range of increases runs from 2.1 to 10.3 percent. The average represents a monthly increase of CHF22.50 for an adult policy with a CHF300 annual deductible.
The group that will feel the impact of the rate hikes, announced in Bern Friday 1 October, are people under age 26, whose rates will rise on average 11 percent. The larger increase is due primarily to insurance companies reducing their discounts for this group.
The increase is slightly lower than the 2009 increase of 9 percent, but well above the 5.5 percent average since obligatory health insurance began. The federal government approves annual rates every autumn, based on rates that will fully cover real costs: subsidies from other parts of the insurance business that would keep rates artificially low are not allowed.
The new rates ensure that insurance companies costs will be completely covered and their reserves meet government requirements.
Bern / Neuchatel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Switzerland is facing a shortage of nurses, and higher health insurance premiums in 2008 reduced households’ disposable income, say two reports just out, that look at aspects of the health care system.
Too few nurses, even with foreigners
Switzerland is facing a health care professionals shortfall, says the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Health Directors (CDS). Two-thirds of the health care professionals the country needs are being trained in Switzerland, with foreign-trained professionals making up what should be the difference. But only about one-half of the nurses needed are available. An important reason for this is that too many health care professionals choose to drop out or take extended leaves, according to CDS in a report released 11 December.
Where your health franc goes
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland’s obligatory health insurance premiums will go up in 2010 by an average of 8.7 percent, says Bern. The increases vary considerably by canton, ranging from 3.7 to 14.6 percent. The increase is slightly less than predicted by the federal government in May. The cantons of Geneva and Vaud have increases below the Swiss average, while most Swiss German cantons have increases above the national average.
Children’s premiums will go up 10 percent on average while young adults will pay 13.7 percent more on average in 2010.
