What is basic insurance?
Everybody who lives in Switzerland requires basic insurance. This compulsory health insurance insures people against the financial consequences of illness, accident and maternity. The insured benefits are set out in the Swiss Health Insurance Act (KVG) and are the same at every health insurer and for all insured people.
What is the fundamental idea underlying health insurance?
The best way to answer this question is with a simplified model. The model involves a society with 100,000 citizens. Statistically, 1,000 of these citizens will fall ill each year. It costs CHF 2,000 to treat each person, which means a total of CHF 2,000,000. People are worried about falling ill and having to cover all the costs themselves. So each person starts paying CHF 20 a year into a fund. If somebody falls ill, the costs are covered using money from this fund. In this metaphor, the fund is your health insurer and it operates in line with the principle of solidarity.
What is the principle of solidarity?
The Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) is based on the idea of solidarity between healthy people and sick people. Primarily, this means that younger, healthier generations bear the higher costs of treating older people, who are more prone to illness. This principle of solidarity ensures that every person can get the help they need should they fall ill.
I pay premiums, but have never had to claim any benefits. This must mean I’m entitled to something.
That is a misconception. You are actually receiving benefits even if you are healthy. You are paying for insurance cover: if you were to fall ill, the insurance would be there for you and cover the costs straightaway. This security costs money. So you are not paying premiums so that you can one day reclaim this money for doctors’ and hospital costs. That is how OASI works, but not health insurance. You are paying premiums into a solidarity fund.
What basic insurance does ÖKK offer?
At ÖKK, you can choose the basic insurance model that best suits your needs. Would you like to be able to choose which doctor treats you in all cases? Then ÖKK BASIS is the right option for you. If you always want to have the same first point of contact and save money on premiums, then our CASAMED models are the right choice for you. Discover the alternative insurance models offered by ÖKK.
How long has Swiss health insurance existed?
Mutual societies and other early forms of health insurance emerged at the end of the 18th century. Most were organised as associations. During the age of industrialisation around the start of the 20th century, the number of insurance schemes increased rapidly, particularly in cities and industrialised regions. In 1888, there were around 1,000 mutual societies in Switzerland. ÖKK’s success story began in 1994, following the merger of almost 40 independent funds from Graubünden to form the ÖKK Foundation.
What was the aim of health insurance at that time?
Mutual funds were not founded with the goal of caring for poor people, but were aimed at those in work, primarily the growing number of industrial workers. Anybody who paid a premium were entitled to a modest daily allowance in the event of illness or accident. The focus was not on providing benefits to cover doctors’ and treatment costs – the main function of most of today’s health insurance schemes.
When did health insurance become a political issue?
In 1890, Switzerland put in place the constitutional basis for health and accident insurance. It was modelled around German health and accident insurance, which was introduced in 1883. The Swiss Health and Accident Insurance Act (KUVG) entered into force in 1914 after it passed a referendum in 1912. In 1996, it was replaced by the current Swiss Health Insurance Act (KVG). While the KUVG, which was in force until 1995, was voluntary, since 1996 everyone who lives in Switzerland has been obliged to have health insurance. The benefits provided under basic insurance are stipulated by law.