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, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland confirmed 2,423 new cases of swine flu in the week ending 21 November, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced Friday 27 November, bringing the total to 6,691 since the outbreak began. The pandemic has already claimed four deaths in Switzerland, all from high risk patients. FOPH estimates that almost 27,000 people have consulted their doctors about the flu country-wide.
Africa now has one billion people, according to a report jointly released by Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based non-profit organization, and USAid, the US government aid agency. The population growth is occurring mainly in sub-Saharan Africa where women tend to have more children than elsewhere in the world: 5.3 on average versus 2.6 worldwide. But Africa overall is currently the continent with the world’s fastest growth rate and fastest projected rate to 2050. Among the many details the report provides on the population, its notes that while Africa has one-seventh of the world’s population, it has one-quarter of the world’s refugees. AllAfrica, “2009 World Population Data Sheet” report and world population clock, data
By T.C-M.H, Collège Voltaire
In Geneva, spring is here and with it lively, animated Geneva streets.
Everybody knows the main tourist places, the Jet d’eau, the St Pierre Cathedral, and so on. But do young people want to go there? There are many other less well-known spots that are more appealing but which remain unexplored by the tourists.
To start you off, here are four popular places:
L’Usine: the hub of alternative culture in Geneva. Young people in Geneva go here for concerts, art shows, theatre and other cultural activities. Also look at the funky BFM building, which dates from 1883. Today, it holds concerts and dance shows.
Bain des Paquis
Les Bains des Pâquis: These public baths have existed since 1872. Today, they are a favourite summer place in Geneva. You can relax in the hammam or the sauna, plunge into the lake or simply lie in the sun on a chaise longue. You can also enjoy the « buvette » and its delicious chocolate cake, salads, and (if you are old enough) a nice cold beer.
One-third of people between 16 and 24 smoke in Scotland, with the number of smokers rising alarming, a new government report shows. The figures are the highest in 10 years. BBC
