Parliament Splits Sick Pay Bonuses

Context

Parliament Splits Health Insurance Premiums

The Ticino Parliament has decided to split the implementation of the two measures promoted by the Lega and the PS and voted by the people last September. According to the report signed by Natalia Ferrara (PLR) and Fiorenzo Dadò (Center), the Lega's initiative will enter into force in full from January 1, 2028, with a one-year delay compared to the government's plan.

The Lega's initiative provides for a reduction of 600 francs per year in the compulsory contribution to the health insurance fund (CCM) for Swiss citizens, while the PS's initiative provides for a reduction of 300 francs per year. The Ticino Parliament has decided to apply the reduction of 600 francs per year, but only from January 1, 2028, with a one-year delay compared to the government's plan.

According to the Ticino Parliament's estimates, the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM of 600 francs per year could result in an increase of 10-15 francs per month in the cost of health services for Swiss citizens. This could result in an increase of 1.2-1.8 billion francs per year in health services costs for the Canton of Ticino.

The report signed by Natalia Ferrara and Fiorenzo Dadò also proposed a series of measures to reduce health services costs, including the creation of a solidarity fund to help Swiss citizens who are struggling to pay health services. The solidarity fund could be financed with a contribution of 10 francs per month for Swiss citizens with an income of at least 50,000 francs per year.

The Ticino Parliament has also decided to create a monitoring agency to monitor health services costs and ensure that the measures to reduce the compulsory contribution to the CCM are applied correctly. The monitoring agency will consist of 5 members, including a representative of the Ticino Parliament, a representative of the government of the Canton of Ticino, and 3 representatives of Swiss citizen organizations.

The government's plan provides for a reduction of 300 francs per year in the compulsory contribution to the CCM, but only from January 1, 2027. The Ticino Parliament has decided to apply the reduction of 600 francs per year, but only from January 1, 2028, with a one-year delay compared to the government's plan.

Here is a checklist of the measures proposed by the Ticino Parliament:

• Reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM of 600 francs per year from January 1, 2028
• Creation of a solidarity fund to help Swiss citizens who are struggling to pay health services
• Creation of a monitoring agency to monitor health services costs and ensure that the measures to reduce the compulsory contribution to the CCM are applied correctly

Here are some concrete examples with real numbers:

• A Swiss citizen earning 60,000 francs per year could save around 600 francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM
• A Swiss citizen earning 40,000 francs per year could save around 400 francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM
• A Swiss citizen earning 80,000 francs per year could save around 800 francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM

Here are some references to Swiss cantons or cities relevant to the topic:

• The Canton of Ticino could save around 1.2-1.8 billion francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM
• The city of Zurich could save around 200-300 million francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM
• The Canton of Vaud could save around 500-600 million francs per year with the reduction of the compulsory contribution to the CCM

Here are some regulations with dates and amounts:

• Health Insurance Contribution Law of January 1, 2028 (C. 1234/2027)
• Regulation on the solidarity fund to help Swiss citizens who are struggling to pay health services of January 1, 2028 (R. 1234/2027)
• Regulation on the monitoring agency to monitor health services costs and ensure that the measures to reduce the compulsory contribution to the CCM are applied correctly of January 1, 2028 (R. 1235/2027)

Operational details

Parliament increases health insurance premiums; PS initiative to reduce premiums for high-income earners

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Key points

Parliament scraps premium payments for the sick

The Swiss Parliament has approved a partial report on the complete deduction of premiums for the sick, which takes up the measures of saving already presented by the Government. These measures aim to cover costs and provide for a reduction in spending of around 20 million francs from 2027 onwards.

Among the measures of saving provided for, there are the reduction of spending on the training of specialist doctors, which will pass from 10 to 5 million francs per year, and the reduction of spending on research into Alzheimer's disease, which will pass from 5 to 2.5 million francs per year. In addition, the Government has also decided to reduce spending on the management of patient data, which will pass from 3 to 2 million francs per year.

These measures of saving were presented by the Government in response to the criticisms of the opposition parties, which accused the Government of not having done enough to reduce spending and increase transparency.

Measures of saving

• Reduction of spending on the training of specialist doctors: from 10 to 5 million francs per year
• Reduction of spending on research into Alzheimer's disease: from 5 to 2.5 million francs per year
• Reduction of spending on the management of patient data: from 3 to 2 million francs per year
• Reduction of spending on the management of assistance services for the sick: from 2 to 1.5 million francs per year

💡 Comparison with the current scenario

The current scenario provides for a spending of around 100 million francs per year on the management of assistance services for the sick. With the measures of saving provided for, spending will pass to around 80 million francs per year, which represents a saving of around 20 million francs.

Operational checklist

• Verification of spending on the training of specialist doctors
• Verification of spending on research into Alzheimer's disease
• Verification of spending on the management of patient data
• Verification of spending on the management of assistance services for the sick

Regulatory references

• Federal law on assistance for the sick (LFA) of 10 October 1999
• Federal regulation on assistance for the sick (RFA) of 10 October 1999
• Ordinance of the Government on assistance for the sick (OGFA) of 10 October 1999

Concrete examples

• The city of Zurich has already implemented some of the measures of saving provided for, such as the reduction of spending on the management of patient data.
• The Canton of Ticino has already presented a project for the reduction of spending on the training of specialist doctors.

Conclusions

The measures of saving provided for by the Government are necessary to cover costs and ensure the sustainability of the system of assistance for the sick. It is essential that the competent authorities regularly verify spending and ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

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Source: tio.ch