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However, depending on the canton, average premiums can increase by 2.1 percent or be 1.6 percent lower. The effects of the crown crisis are not yet clear.
The increase is low compared to the average for recent years, according to a statement from the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) on Tuesday. However, the increase in premiums in the current year was even smaller, at 0.2 percent.
The average premium has increased by an average of 3.2 percent annually since 2010, and since the mandatory health insurance came into force in 1996, the annual increase has even been 3.7 percent.
Decreasing or stable premiums in 9 cantons
The average premium for adults (375.40 francs) and young adults (265.60 francs) increased slightly compared to last year, or 0.4 per cent. The premium for children, on the other hand, is reduced slightly by 0.1 per cent and amounts to 99.70 Swiss francs.
In the nine cantons of AG, AI, AR, BS, NE, OW, SH, SZ and ZH, the average median premium adjustments are below or zero percent. In the ten cantons BE, FR, GE, GL, GR, SG, SO, UR, VD and ZG, the increase is between zero and one percent. In the remaining seven cantons BL, JU, LU, NW, TG, TI and VS, the increase is more than one percent.
According to BAG figures, the largest increase in the average premium is recorded in Ticino with 2.1 percent, followed by Jura with 2.0 percent and Valais with 1.6 percent. In the German-speaking cantons, the canton of Lucerne recorded the highest growth with 1.4 percent, followed by the cantons of Basel-Landschaft with 1.3 percent and Thurgau with 1.2 percent.
In cantons with declining premiums, Appenzell-Innerrhoden leads the way with 1.6 percent less, followed by canton of Zurich with 0.7 percent less. In the canton of Neuchâtel, the average premium is reduced by 0.2% and in the cantons of Aargau, Obwalden, Schaffhausen and Schwyz by 0.1% each. Premiums in Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and Basel-Stadt remain stable.
Corona’s effects are uncertain
According to the BAG, premiums for 2021 are calculated to cover estimated costs in 2021. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on current-year costs have yet to be determined. There are still many uncertainties and it is still too early to estimate the real costs, they say. If the costs of the service in the current year turned out to be higher or lower than what was estimated when the premiums were set, the amount of the reserves would change accordingly.
According to the BAG, health insurance premiums are an increasing burden on households. Due to demographic evolution and medical-technical progress, costs in the health system will continue to increase in the future, as the BAG continues to write.
The Federal Council’s goal is for costs to only increase to a medically justifiable degree. Last year it approved a first package with nine measures to contain healthcare costs. This is currently being debated in Parliament. Last August, the Federal Council sent for consultation a second package of measures, whose savings potential is estimated at 1 billion Swiss francs.
