Campaigners submit 57,000 signatures for referendum on health financing reform

Swiss voters are likely to have the last word on reforms to healthcare financing this year as the country’s public services union (VPOD) handed 57,000 signatures in to the federal chancellery in Bern on Thursday. At stake is the ‘monism bill’ which foresees standardised financing of outpatient and inpatient care, under which the cantons would be required to pay at least 26.9% of the costs of services and health insurers a maximum of 73.1% through premiums. Today, outpatient treatments are paid by health insurers alone from premiums. At least 55% of inpatient services are paid for by the cantons and the rest is paid by the health insurance funds. Opponents of the reforms fear that the health insurance funds could become too powerful, with the risk of a further increase in premiums. Those in favour, on the other hand, expect the reforms to bring considerable savings. Translated from German by DeepL/kp How we work This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an ...