Swiss health ministers repeat annual premium rise ritual

Swiss health premiums have climbed from an average of 128 francs in 1996 to 412 francs today, as health ministers return each autumn to announce another increase. SRF looks back at the decades-long ritual, most recently performed by Social Democratic minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on Tuesday.

The term “premium explosion” appeared in the Swiss Media Database for the first time on 24 August 1981, in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. At the time, Felix von Schröder, president of the health insurers’ association, cited an ageing population, rising hospital charges and doctors’ fees as reasons for increasing premiums — explanations that still sound familiar.

Since then, ministers have faced the same annual announcement. Ruth Dreifuss spoke to SRF in 1999. In 2005, Pascal Couchepin appeared visibly frustrated as he delivered the news. Didier Burkhalter announced a “moderate increase” in 2012, while Alain Berset presided over a series of further increases and sometimes tried to offer reassurance.

The setting for the announcements eventually became the Federal Palace Media Centre, where ministers, senior officials and journalists gather each year. Questions about who is responsible for the increases remain unanswered, SRF says. Its News Plus podcast is examining the issue.