Web-economic-crisis-health-systems-and-health-web

Switzerland
Alberto Holly and Philippe Lehmann
Economic trends
• Switzerland's real GDP per capita contracted in 2009 but to a lesser
extent than the mean contraction in the European region in that year.
• Ten-year bond rates are the lowest in the European region.
• While government spending relative to GDP is low compared with other
European countries, priority for health spending is among the highest in
Europe. In 2008, there was acceleration in public per capita expenditure
growth to 18.5%; at the same time, OOP expenditure decreased by
12.4% (Switzerland: Figs 1 and 2).
Policy responses
Changes to public funding for the health system
• The health budget at the national level was cut.
• The annual rate of increase in SHI expenditure fell from 4.2% (1996–2001)
to 3.2% (2001–2006) and 2.1% (2006–2011).
• This reform aimed to prevent insurers from increasing premiums to
compensate for investment losses, as occurred in 2010.
• Federal and canton government subsidies for health insurance premiums for
individuals with low income and families (available since 1996 and stable
between 2005 and 2008) were increased (2009).
• The government introduced new rules for health insurer minimum
reserves, which are now set in relation to enrollee risk profiles rather than
premium income (2012).
• The annual rate of increase in SHI premiums fell from 6–9% (2000–2005)
to 0–2% (2012–2013), mainly as a result of cost-containment measures.
Changes to health coverage
Population (entitlement)
• Clarified entitlement of undocumented migrants: these persons are entitled to
statutory coverage and subsidized premiums (2011).