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EXPLAINED: What’s Switzerland’s plan if there’s a second wave of coronavirus?

Switzerland has outlined plans to protect the elderly in the event of a second coronavirus wave, including special train cabins and exclusive shopping times.

Published: 25 June 2020 13:35 CEST
Updated: 8 July 2020 16:22 CEST
EXPLAINED: What's Switzerland's plan if there's a second wave of coronavirus?
An elderly couple board a train in Basel. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

A scientific task force set up to advise the Federal Council on the coronavirus, has recommended several steps to protect the elderly during a second wave of the coronavirus. 

Given that much of the devastation caused by the virus came from it spreading through elderly homes, the researchers want to create extra barriers which prevent older people getting infected.

The plan showcases a different approach than that which was adopted during the lockdown which began in March. 

Rather than locking down the population as a whole, the focus is set to be on those who are most vulnerable for the virus – i.e. those with pre-existing conditions but primarily older people. 

Q&A: How will Switzerland's coronavirus tracing app work?

This includes reserving special cabins on public transport only for elderly people, creating areas in restaurants just for the elderly and marking off special footpath areas which can only be used by older people. 

Creating special shopping windows – times at which only seniors can shop – at supermarkets has also been floated, after it was previously implemented in Ticino during the lockdown. 

The task force said the priority was to ensure the safety of older Swiss while also ensuring that they are not excluded from public life. Seniors must be able to “participate in social life and at the same time be able to protect themselves adequately”, said the authors. 

Another goal was to create a safer feeling in public spaces as “some seniors are afraid to go outside”. 

Elderly or seniors car in train travel 

One idea is to create a cabin or car which is purely reserved for seniors. This would not only ensure some separation from the general public, but would likely enable greater social distancing. 

Infections scientist Manuel Battegay from the University Hospital Basel told Swiss tabloid Blick that special rules could potentially apply to the seniors cabin, while restaurant cars could also have areas set aside for seniors. 

READ: Everything you need to know about Switzerland's new compulsory mask requirement

“Or a senior saloon in the restaurant, where the tables are far apart and the service personnel consistently wear protective masks?”

Special opening times

In Ticino in April, supermarkets introduced a special ’shopping window’ early in the day which was to be used only for seniors. 

In the southern Swiss canton, which was the heaviest hit in terms of mortality, supermarkets were opened earlier than 10am for the exclusive use of seniors. 

Ticino’s creation of the shopping window was done as a compromise. Initially, the canton – which shares a long border with hard-hit Italy – banned all over 65s from shopping completely, but faced negative feedback. 

Footpaths and areas in restaurants only for elderly people

Some other ideas included making certain public and private spaces exclusively useable by seniors. 

One idea would be to have areas of restaurants set aside for seniors, while another was to allow exclusive use of footpaths and walking tracks for the elderly. 

Bans on visits to elderly homes are also likely to be reinstated, although many have adapted during the previous lockdown and built ‘visitation boxes’ through which residents could have contact with the outside world. 

READ: How Swiss ‘visitor boxes' are again allowing nursing home visits 

Otherwise known as ‘visitor zones’, the visitation boxes allow communication via phone or speakers while preventing transmission through a sheet of plexiglass or glass. 

Besucherboxen – visitation boxes – in Swiss retirement homes. Photo: DPA

Elderly the most vulnerable 

The median age of those who have passed away from the virus in Switzerland is 84 years. Of those who have died from the virus, 97 percent were suffering from one or more pre-existing conditions. 

According to data from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the most common condition suffered by the deceased is high blood pressure, which affected 63 percent of the deceased. 

Just over one half – 57 percent – suffered from cardiovascular diseases, while 26 percent suffered from diabetes. 

Who has been infected by the virus in Switzerland? 

Age is a major factor in dying from the virus; however people of all ages have been infected in Switzerland. 

Children between the ages of zero and nine – while at a lower risk of death and serious complications – are still contracting the virus in Switzerland, with 205 confirmed cases.

The next age group – ten-19-years-old – sees 942 confirmed cases, while 3,999 cases have been confirmed for those between 20-29. 

The figure is slightly higher for people in their 30s and 40s, with 4,258 and 4,893 people confirmed in those age brackets respectively. 

The most affected group in Switzerland is between the ages of 50-59, where 6,339 have been infected. 

Those in their 60s (3,723), 70s (2,923) and aged 80 or older (4,120) have also been heavily affected. 

Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Who has died from the virus in Switzerland? 

The true dangers of the coronavirus can be seen by looking at mortality rates in Switzerland. 

Only one person under the age of 30 has died from the virus, an infant in the canton of Aargau. 

Five people in their 30s have passed away – a mortality rate of 0.12 percent. 

Four people in their 40s in Switzerland has passed away from the virus – giving rise to a mortality rate of 0.08 percent.

While people in their 50s are the heaviest affected in terms of infections, there has been a relatively low death rate – with only 41 people in this age bracket dying due to the virus, or a mortality rate of 0.65 percent. 

The death rates jump up for people in their 60s, with 125 people passing away (mortality rate of 3.35 percent), while 339 people in their 70s have died from coronavirus (mortality rate of 11.59 percent). 

Swiss residents above 80 have been the heaviest hit however, with 1,167 people 80 or older passing away. This means that in Switzerland people over the age of 80 have a mortality rate of 28.45 percent. 

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HEALTH

How you can save money on healthcare in Switzerland

Between insurance premiums and over-priced drugs and other costs, healthcare in Switzerland comes at a steep price. Clare O'Dea looks at why the costs are so high and some of the ways you can save money.

Published: 18 December 2023 10:40 CET
How you can save money on healthcare in Switzerland

On the surface, the Swiss healthcare provision model looks egalitarian. All residents are obliged by law to purchase the same basic package of insurance, and the premiums are subsidised for those on low incomes. So why is cost such a bone of contention?

The problem is that the healthcare itself is very expensive, the second most expensive system in the world after the United States. And most of the cost is shouldered by households one way or another. This hurts those on low to middle incomes the most.

Between health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses and over-priced drugs, households are spending a significant chunk of their income on health. Amazingly, Swiss residents fund 59 per cent of the national expenditure on health, according to the Federal Office for Public Health figures for 2020. The rest comes from state coffers, and, to a small extent, from employers.

To bring it down to an individual level, Swiss residents shell out 478 francs per person per month on health costs. Compulsory health insurance premiums account for 252 francs of that total on average. The rest goes on supplementary (top-up) health insurance premiums (42 francs), co-payment on policies plus out-of-pocket expenses (174 francs) and ‘other funding’ (10).

Politicians across the spectrum seem to be incapable of doing anything to curb health inflation. The latest is that health insurance premiums are set to increase by 8.7 per cent in 2024. That’s not a projection but a fact, as announced by the health minister in September.

KEY POINTS: What you need to know about Switzerland’s health insurance price hikes

Public purse

The worst thing would be to miss out on your entitlements. To find out if you qualify for premium subsidies, you’ll have to go through your home canton. Each canton has its own reduction rates and rules on eligibility. In some, there are systems in place to identify and notify eligible people but in others, you have to check and apply yourself.

This possibility is definitely worth looking into if you think you might be eligible – around a quarter of the population qualify for these payments. In some cantons, the proportion of recipients is higher. Moneyland.ch has put together a list of the contact information for premium reductions in each canton.

Take the initiative

Generally speaking, to save money on healthcare costs, the insured have to take the initiative themselves. New arrivals to Switzerland are required to take out a policy within three months, and should definitely shop around. Pricing comparison websites such as moneyland.ch , comparis.ch and Priminfo (in the national languages only) help to cut through the noise and find the best deal for your individual circumstances.

Age and location are important criteria. There are infinite tiny pricing variations between the 40+ non-profit insurers (known as “Krankenkasse”, “caisse maladie” or “cassa malati”), which means you may even find a better deal by buying policies from different insurers for different members of the family.

For those who already have a policy, it makes sense to do an annual price check up when the following year’s rates are announced in the autumn. Chopping and changing, which everyone has a right to do once a year, can really pay off.

The window for changing providers has just closed but you can be ready to notify your current provider by November 30th next year. Handily, the comparison websites also provide template letters for cancelling a policy.

READ ALSO: Which Swiss health insurance providers have the lowest rates in 2024?

Different models

Even if you decide to stay with the same insurer, you can obviously change the type of policy to a cheaper version. The so-called standard model is the most expensive. Under this arrangement, you decide which doctor you’d like to see, including specialists, and make appointments when you feel the need. 

There are other cheaper managed care models which are designed to cut down on unnecessary visits to the doctor. With these, you have to have a telemedicine consultation or visit a pharmacy before you get the green light to make an appointment with a doctor. There is another model where you have to see your general practitioner to get a referral to a specialist.

Calculations

The best way to save overall is to get clever with your deductible. That’s the share of medical expenses that you have to pay from your own pocket in the space of the year before your insurer starts reimbursing. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium.

Making the right choice involves a certain risk. But it is at least possible to make an educated guess based on past experience. There are several bands between 300 and 2,500 francs per year for deductibles (the amounts are lower for children).

If you tend not to need medical care and think your health costs are likely to be low in the coming year, it would make sense to go for the maximum deductible, which can translate into a saving up around 40 per cent on premiums. If you have reason to believe your bills will add up to 2,000 francs or more, then you’re better off going for the minimum deductible.

Don’t double up

That’s all speaking about the mandatory insurance package, which includes illness, accident and maternity care. But make sure you really need that accident insurance. Anyone who is employed for more than 8 hours per week is covered by their employer’s accident insurance, in which case it should be removed from their personal policy.

If you are looking to save money on health insurance, chances are you won’t be looking for additional insurance, also known as supplementary insurance. These policies give you more freedom over choice of hospital, and also cover therapies and treatments that are not included in the basic mandatory package. You can have both policies from the same provider or mix and match.

Though it can be irritating to hear this, especially if you already have a health condition, there is one final way that you can save on health costs – don’t get sick. What this advice really means is to lead a healthy lifestyle by taking exercise, eating a balanced diet, not consuming too much alcohol and cutting out smoking. Those are things we have control over, unlike genetics and luck.

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