3.12 Switzerland: Health System
Description
This article is from the Switzerland FAQ, by Marc Schaefer schaefer@alphanet.ch with numerous contributions by others.
3.12 Switzerland: Health System
To draw a few sketches (more answers might come from soc.culture.swiss,
feel free to post there) specifically about the HEALTH care system:
- since 1997 the health insurance is compulsory, yet still in
private hands (corporations which must be ruled specially under
governmental control compete in the health insurance market).
- only the basic coverage is compulsory and standard. All the add-ons
can vary from insurance to insurance in content.
- the price of the basic coverage depends on the canton (state), and
on other parameters, within specific rules. Also, there is a
minimal amount which must be paid (``franchise''). This can be
set as wanted (minimal for 98 is 150 SFR I think). The bigger,
the smaller the insurance fees.
This system is rather new and has a lot of problems. Added to the fact
that Switzerland has very high medical costs (induced by a lot
(too much?) of hospital capacity and physicians) and that most of
the costs are state-induced (private insurers must make their clients
pay for those very costly public hospitals), it gives an expensive
system, which might get better --- currently it is getting worse,
especially for the non-rural cantons.
Hazard insurance (at work) is separat, as is welfare. Both are compulsory
and state-handled.
The professional hazard insurance is compulsory, and paid by the
employer. The non-professional insurance is compulsory when you work
more than 12 hours per week, and your employer might or might not
pay it for you. This is around 1.1 and 2% of the income.
Welfare (AVS (retirement), AI (disability), APG (military insurance))
is around 10.1 of your income. Unemployment insurance is another
3%. Half is paid by the employer.
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