Politics Council of States opposes standardized cantonal health insurance funds

The Council of States opposes the creation of a legal basis for uniform cantonal public health insurance funds, despite opposition from the left-wing and green parties. The canton of Geneva had called for the possibility of setting up such a fund.

The Geneva Grand Council called on parliament to create a legal basis for cantonal single health insurance funds. Cantons should also be able to test alternative models on this basis.

According to the text of the initiative, the current system with a large number of private health insurance companies creates "numerous problems". The private health insurance companies would speculate with the reserves of the insured and invest in advertising instead of prevention and health promotion.

However, these arguments did not hold water in the Council. On Tuesday, the small chamber voted 26 to 14 in favor of the majority of the Social Security and Health Committee (SGK-S). The latter had requested that the initiative be rejected.

A left-green minority wanted to accept the Geneva initiative as a good compromise. With a national legal basis, cantons that wanted a single health insurance fund could create one without making it compulsory for everyone.

The National Council will next decide on the initiative.

SDA