Health Insurance - Swiss health insurance costs to rise further in 2019
More bad news for Swiss household budgets was released today for residents of all but three Swiss cantons.
Health insurance premiums in 2019 will be on average 1.2% higher than
in 2018 across Switzerland as a whole. However, within this figure
there are significant cantonal variations.
Hardest hit will be residents of Valais (+3.6%) and Neuchâtel
(+3.1%), while those of Appenzell Inherrhoden (-1.5%), Uri (-1.5%) and
Zug (+0%) will be spared a shock induced rise in blood pressure.
In addition, averages in cantons with moderate increases, such as Vaud (+1.2%), conceal nasty surprises.
Government rule changes and fiddling by insurers have conspired to
leave some far poorer. The main change is federal government tinkering
to reduce the burden on 19-25 year olds. The flip side of this is higher
premiums for those under 19 and over 25.
For example, a family of four in Vaud (parents over 25 and kids under
19), with mum and dad opting for the maximum deductible for themselves
and no deductible for the kids, could see their family health insurance
bill rise by more than 7%. This comes on top of a similar rise last
year.
There is little that can be done to avoid the pain – basic health
insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. Higher deductibles help, but
less than they used to. Some insurers offer cheaper plans for those
happy to consult their family doctor first rather than going directly to
specialists or for going to a designated pharmacy.
For the footloose, moving canton is the best remedy. The family above
would make a saving of around CHF 4,000 a year if they moved from Vaud
to Appenzell Inherrhoden.
source : https://lenews.ch/2018/09/24/swiss-health-insurance-costs-to-rise-further-in-2019/
source : https://lenews.ch/2018/09/24/swiss-health-insurance-costs-to-rise-further-in-2019/