A relief Fund for indebted Insured

more and more Insured due to the high health insurance premiums in financial difficulties. But anyone who has debt in the health insurance, can't switch the checkout. A change to a cheaper Fund would relieve the Insured often, says Erika Ziltener, President of the umbrella Association of Swiss Patients (DVSP). So could be 100 francs per month Insured quickly once save.

The Patient of Zurich has now set up a Fund to pay off its debts to such Insured. The rash a married couple, the debts of the Fund and unpaid medical bills for a total amount of 10'000 CHF. In trouble, the Couple came, as in the case of the wife, an auto-immune disease broke out, and high treatment costs. Due to the stressful Situation, the man fell ill. Both had elected the maximum franchise of 2500 francs, to save on premiums, but do not have enough money to pay the cost of treatment.

help only for cash exchange

The Fund serves Patients from all over Switzerland, and will be built up with donations. Support is subject to the condition that the Insured, after settlement of the debts in an affordable cash register, the GP model and the standard deductible of CHF 300, choose. Because a common reason for the debt with a high deductible, Ziltener says. Insured on a Budget often chose a Franchise of 2500 francs, and had not placed sufficient money back to pay for any treatment costs.

Several cases from the German part of Switzerland were redirected Ziltener from debt advice agencies. Thanks to the first donations to some of the Insured could be helped. In a case that is Ziltener on the table, the amount of the debt, however, to a whopping 40'000 Swiss francs. Such a case is too much the Patient currently. The financial support of an advance payment, to be reimbursed by the person Concerned.

Ziltener hopes that you can some allow the Insured a cash exchange in the middle of this year. The Affected must cancel the current insurance until the end of March, which is just a rapid settlement of outstanding premiums and Cost sharing. A change in the middle of the year is allowed in the standard model with a minimal franchise of 300 francs. At the same time, Patients are advised when applications for the premium reduction. Often people in debt would have to first complete the tax return, because of a reduction in the Premium.

350 million of debt

Each year, the Insured will remain the health insurance funds more than 100 million Swiss francs of premiums and Cost sharing guilty. In the year 2017, from the the latest debt statistics are derived, were the outstanding payments of around 350 million Swiss francs. A part of this Insured turns because of their financial problems to debt advice agencies. Around 60 per cent of these clients have outstanding payments for the health insurance.

According to Mario Roncoroni of the debt advice service of Bern the debt, and the cash amount to the Insured person in a cut of almost 11'000 Swiss francs per. What is the share of outstanding costs account for investments, was not collected. But it is clear for Roncoroni, high franchise pose no additional debt risk.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 15.03.2019, 22:08 PM