Health System
Over the past few decades, health expenditure and health insurance premiums have continuously increased in Switzerland. This development has led to the launch of two popular initiatives, which will be voted on by Swiss citizens on 9 June 2024. To make the views of research economists in academia on this topic visible, KOF and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) conducted a short survey.
These are the two popular initiatives on which Swiss citizens will vote on 9 June 2024:
The first initiative, the Premium Relief Initiative, proposes to limit the amount insured individuals have to spend on health insurance premiums to 10% of their disposable income. If this limit is exceeded, the federal government and cantons would provide premium subsidies.
The second initiative, the Cost Brake Initiative, demands that the federal government, in collaboration with the cantons, take measures to reduce costs if the average costs per insured person in compulsory health insurance rise significantly more than nominal wages and economic output.
To make the views of research economists in academia on the topic visible to the public, the KOF, together with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), conducted in May 2024 a short survey.
KOF contacted 814 economists for the survey. We received responses from 113 economists from 17 institutions.
Results
1. The Premium Relief Initiative advocates that premiums should not exceed 10 percent of disposable income. Premium subsidies should be expanded accordingly, financed two-thirds by the federal government and one-third by the cantons. From an economic point of view, this is a measure that I
2. The Cost Brake Initiative demands that the federal government initiates cost reductions if the costs of compulsory health insurance rise significantly more than nominal wages and economic output. From an economic point of view, this is a measure that I
3. The Cost Brake Initiative does not propose specific measures for cost reduction in the initiative text. How much confidence do you have that the responsible authorities will develop and implement economically efficient measures? I have
4. If you were asked to advise on which measures would best improve efficiency in the health care system, which three measures would you, as an economist, prioritize?
5. Compulsory health insurance is financed by contributions from insured individuals, which are uniform within a premium region and age group regardless of income (per-capita premium). Insured individuals in modest financial circumstances, as well as children and young people in education, are entitled to premium reductions. How should compulsory health insurance be primarily financed from an economic point of view?
About this survey
KOF is acting as a mediator between academic researchers and the public. It aims to make the voices of research economists heard. KOF categorises economic researchers as those from Swiss research institutions who have published scientifically.
The survey was conducted together with the external page Neuen Zürcher Zeitung.
Contact
KOF FB Konjunkturumfragen
Leonhardstrasse 21
8092
Zürich
Switzerland
KOF Konjunkturforschungsstelle
Leonhardstrasse 21
8092
Zürich
Switzerland