Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

HEALTH

Everything that changes in August 2020 in Switzerland

From a new English-language national anthem to plenty of coronavirus changes, here's what's in store in August.

Published: 4 August 2020 13:32 CEST
Updated: 9 August 2020 11:22 CEST
Everything that changes in August 2020 in Switzerland
Photo by Nick Hillier on Unsplash

A new ‘national anthem’

Saturday, August 1st was the first Swiss National Day to be celebrated with Switzerland’s new English-language ‘national anthem’. 

The anthem was selected by a jury and a public vote, while the writer took home CHF10,000 for penning the new anthem.

The eventual winner, Swiss artist Werner Widmer, donated the prize money to a social organisation.

Widmer's entry, entitled ‘White Cross on a Shining Red', was chosen as it was able to “focus the essential values of the constitutional preamble in a single song verse”.

Although the anthem has not replaced the official Swiss anthem, Lukas Niederberger, the Director of the Swiss Society for the Common Good who conducted the competition, told The Local he hoped it would follow the path of the German version of the anthem – White Cross on a Red Ground.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘Freedom, independence, equality': Switzerland chooses new English-language ‘national anthem' 

What are the advantages of living in Switzerland? Well, the flag's a big plus. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini

Unmarried partners again allowed into Switzerland

Swiss authorities have lifted restrictions on entry to people from third nations whose ‘significant other half’ lives in Switzerland.

At a press conference on Thursday, July 30th, State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) representative Barbara Büschi said unmarried couples will again be able to reunite in Switzerland from Monday, August 3rd. 

In order to enter, couples will be subject to strict rules and will need to prove the existence of their relationship to authorities. 

They will also require an invitation to enter. The invitation must be in writing and come from the member of the couple living in Switzerland.

People from all countries will be allowed to enter, however anyone entering from 'high risk' countries will need to comply with Switzerland's quarantine requirement. 

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

In order to enter, travellers must prove to authorities that the relationship has been ongoing for 'a long time'. 

“A short vacation friendship is not enough” said Büschi. 

Letters, photos, plane tickets and stamps in passports can all be used to prove the legitimacy and the length of the relationship. 

Masks compulsory in schools in Neuchâtel

As of August, masks have been made compulsory in high schools and vocational education centres in the western canton of Neuchâtel. 

State Councilor Monika Maire-Hefti told Le Temps “”Wearing a mask will be compulsory in post-compulsory education, if one cannot respect 1.5 meters of distance”. 

In practice, Le Temps reports that masks are likely to be compulsory inside all high schools and vocational centres as distance requirements will be difficult to comply with. 

Masks will not compulsory outside, while Maire-Hefti also said “”in some workshops that are large enough, however, the students should not wear them.”

The canton has ordered 120,000 masks for students to wear in order to comply with the requirement. 

Neuchâtel has followed the lead of Lucerne and Geneva in requiring masks in schools, although unlike Lucerne students do not have to pay for their own masks. 

What else could change? Circle August 12 on your calendar

Amid rising infection rates across the country – particularly in Geneva – the federal government is considering implementing further restrictions, most notably acting on a recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Health Directors' Conference (GDK) to make masks in shops compulsory in all cantons. 

‘Officially a high-risk area': How Geneva became Switzerland's new coronavirus hotspot 

This meeting will take place on August 12th. 

While some cantons – Geneva, Jura and Vaud – already have compulsory masks in shops, the result of the meeting could be a nationwide requirement. 

An accurate representation of the rising infection rates in Geneva. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini

Spain remains a pain: Could quarantine be on the way? 

On Monday, August 3rd, Spain’s infection rate rose above the threshold of 60 new infections per 100,000 people – meaning that the Iberian country could be added to the list for countries that are required to quarantine on arrival in Switzerland. 

The Local spoke with a representative from the Federal Office of Public Health on Tuesday, August 4th who said officials “are constantly monitoring the development of the situation in Spain” but that as it stands “Spain is not on the list” of high-risk countries. 

As we covered in early August, expect an announcement of a quarantine requirement if infection rates remain high in Spain. 

Revision of the Family Allowances Act

The revision of the Family Allowances Act (FamZG) came into force on 1 August 2020 in force. 

The FamZG is amended in three areas: 1. the age limit for training allowances is lowered. 

2. unemployed mothers receiving maternity allowance, are entitled to family allowances. 

3. a legal basis for financial assistance to family organisations is created. 

More information can be found here. 

 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

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.

SHOW COMMENTS