How Health Insurance Companies Save Millions: Why Premium Reductions are often Foregone

2024-04-21 00:33:05

Published21. April 2024, 02:33

Health insurance companies: Despite the right, many forego the premium reduction – cantons save millions

Shame, ignorance or excessive demands: the current application system ensures enormous savings for the cantons. The question: Why is the premium reduction not paid out automatically?

• Cantons save millions because many insured people do not receive their premium reductions.

• Many people would forego the reduced premium out of shame, ignorance or excessive demands.

• GLP National Councilor Patrick Hässig demands that the benefits be paid out automatically in the future.

One in four who would like to see a reduction in the price Health insurance premiums (IPV) does not receive this – at least in the canton of Glarus, which is one of the few cantons that even records this number. That’s what she reports “Sunday newspaper”. In Appenzell Ausserrhoden, around 2,000 people do not claim the premium reduction, which corresponds to around 15 percent. This saves the canton over five million francs.

In 19 cantons you have to register for the premium reduction and submit a form. Many people don’t do this even though they have a right to it – be it voluntarily, because they don’t know their rights, because they’re overwhelmed or because they’re ashamed. According to research by the “Sonntagszeitung”, some would rather avoid the doctor or go into debt. But apart from Glarus and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, the cantons do not disclose their savings. When asked, they say these numbers are not collected.

Automatic payout instead of an unfair application system?

Daniela Aloisi from the Social Security Office of the Canton of Zurich believes the application system is correct: “It is needs-based. Some people who are theoretically entitled to a premium reduction do not need it. For example, people with good educational qualifications or those who are supported by their parents.”

GLP National Councilor Patrick Hässig, on the other hand, considers it offensive that the cantons benefit because citizens do not know their rights or are overwhelmed by the bureaucracy. He demands automatic payment of the premium reduction. Ultimately, the cantons would also automatically receive the federal contribution of 7.5 percent of the premium amount.

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