Can Berner look forward to decreasing health insurance premiums as of 2012?

Can Berners look forward to dropping health insurance premiums as of 2012? According to the cantonal government, the answer is affirmative. However, the health insurance companies appease, and Visana talks about an attenuation of the rise in premiums.

Traditionally, the Bernese cantonal government draws heavy fire from the health insurance companies – however this time, they´re turning the tables and demand that the health insurance companies lower the premiums in the canton Bern by 2014 at the latest; in fact drastically – for 200 per insured individual on a yearly basis on average. The average annual premium per person amounts to 300 francs, with a franchise, and 5.000 francs, with accident coverage´.

But how do the health insurance companies express themselves about it? Little, or none at all. The KPT keeps silent, Helsana declares that it will not be involved in speculations until the basic conditions for a calculation of health insurance premiums are established.

Visana of same opinion as the cantonal government

The biggest Bernese health insurance company, Visana, bears the cantonal government out. Because, with a new financing of hospitals next year, a drastic shifting of costs takes place, effected by the health insurance companies for the cantons. From the insured individuals´ point of view, a consequent rise in premiums is to be expected. However, Visana doesn´t want to raise the 200.000 insured individual´s hope, and talks about a certain attenuation of the rise in premiums as of 2012.

Searching for goals together

The Bernese government claims that the new financing of hospitals relieves the health insurance companies for 260 million francs. However, the health insurance companies doubt this, because one assumes a slight increase of patients operated. The head of the hospital´s office appeals that the goal of the canton and the health insurance company must be the stabilization of the number of patients operated, the search for alternative solutions and the promotion of ambulant treatments. Now, the hospitals hope for help of the insurance companies, if the canton sets limits to hospitals by quantity restrictions on the hospital list. In addition, degressive tariffs for the hospital´s office would become worth considering, which would decrease depending on a certain service.

We´ll keep you up to date regarding development of premiums for the year 2012!