More premium reduction, but only a little bit more

The green liberals played yesterday a crucial role in the cantonal Parliament: Once they voted with the Left, once Right. It was about a new law that regulates the reduction in the Premium in the Canton, their modalities, as well as the amount that is available. Currently there are over 900 million Swiss francs, of which 503 million is coming from Federal and 402 million by the Canton.

Since 2012, the Canton provides only 80 percent of the Federal contribution. The middle-left of this previous saving would like to make a measure, to be reversed and applied in the law of the Canton's contribution of 100 percent of the Federal subsidy. So the Canton would have to spend about 90 million, in addition to subsidized Premiums. SVP and the FDP will find the financial are politically unacceptable, and with the support of BDP, EDU and GLP a comfortable majority in favour of maintaining the Status quo was in the Council.

The last word in this question is the people. Because the CVP had taken the precaution of launching a popular initiative, which calls for an increase to 100 percent. The necessary signatures are collected already, also thanks to Using the AL. Lorenz Schmid (CVP, Männedorf) showed up yesterday, confident of victory: "This vote, we will win." With the additional money, especially in the lower midmarket that could be relieved. He has particularly suffered from the ever-increasing premiums.

dispute case, social assistance recipients

In a second controversial point of the law, SVP, and FDP remained with their attitude alone, for once-a-middle-left. And the can capture the AL as your success. You had given some time ago at the Zurich state law Professor Thomas Gächter, an expert opinion in order, and the result is now in the law flowed. The AL was bothered by the fact that an ever-increasing share of the subsidy pot is used to assume the premiums of supplementary performance, and social assistance recipients, as well as promissory notes to cover; in the meantime, the Canton of Zurich takes nearly half of the money.

"According to the Gächter-opinion of the contribution of the Federal government for premium subsidies may not be needed, but for premium acquisitions," said Kaspar Bütikofer (AL, Zurich); for these Acquisitions alone, the Canton had to pay.

All parties except the FDP and the SVP have followed this reasoning and decided on an appropriate passage. Starting in 2021, when the law is expected to enter into force, it must spend the Canton that is why every year, around 8 million more for the premium reduction. Daniel Häuptli (GLP, Zurich) for this solution. "Because otherwise those people would lose that money today, thanks to the premium reduction just enough." Häuptli the "cross-financing of social assistance on the hump of the prämienver billiung recipients" is unfair.

compromises needed

Behind the new law, a lot of work. The preparatory Commission under President Claudio Schmid (SVP, Bülach, Switzerland) has worked for more than two years. It has closed some compromises, so that from the former saving a template of the government, a law was, in the broad, all approve. The SP boasted to have it with your applications significantly improved. "The amount of the amounts paid is too low, but the distribution mechanism is good," said Esther Straub (SP, Zürich).

young adults-in-training continues to be a reduction in the Premium, except it is called "Mercedes children", i.e. children of established parents. The government wanted to redistribute at the expense of this group of 40 million Swiss francs, and now there are only 20 million for the benefit of other Users.

The Commission followed by the Council have also prevents Lone parents receive significantly less money, and they ensured that 30 per cent of the population of subsidized Premiums benefit. The government, however, wanted to support the lowest income groups and more – at the expense of the middle class. Finally, the calculation of the amounts is fairer: Instead of a stage model based on a a year from the government Council established. (Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 11.03.2019, 22:36 PM