The Council of State has set the criteria for granting health insurance subsidies for the year 2025. The canton is facing a relatively moderate increase in premiums. However, this comes on top of two years of strong growth. In this context, the
Efforts are focused on consolidating the subsidy system to ensure continuity of current support.
For the year 2025, the canton records, compared to the two previous years, a more moderate increase in compulsory health insurance premiums (LAMal). The average increase, all age groups combined, amounts to 4.6% (9.8% for 2024). In detail, all deductibles and specific insurance models combined, with and without accident risk, premiums for adults (from 26 years old) increase on average by 3.8% (to 512.80 francs/month); those of young adults (19-25 years old) increase by 5.0% (to 351.80 francs/month); while those of children (0-18 years old) increase by 4.7% (to 131.60 francs/month).
Maintaining the intensity of aid for so-called “ordinary classification” beneficiaries
In order to maintain the intensity of the aid, the amounts of ordinary subsidies, in favor of insured persons of modest economic condition, are increased in the same proportion in percentage as the increase in premiums by age category. In 2025, the maximum monthly subsidy will be 593 francs for adults, 447 francs for young adults and 154 francs for children.
In 2024, several measures were taken to mitigate the weight of the sharp increase in premiums and to compensate for the non-renewal of the extraordinary purchasing power subsidy (SEPA) from 2023. In particular, these measures focused on an expansion of the circle of beneficiaries (by integrating the income limits temporarily defined in 2023 for SEPA). The measures also allowed the introduction of a right to a subsidy in classifications S11 to S15 for adults and young adults with dependents, as well as a complementary expansion of the final income limit giving access to a subsidy for single people. All these measures are renewed for 2025.
Despite the measures taken, the cost remaining for policyholders will increase for those whose subsidy does not cover the entire premium.
Equivalent subsidy for recipients of social assistance and supplementary benefits
As in previous years, a cantonal reference premium (PARC), considering the ordinary deductible with the accident risk, is determined for beneficiaries of social assistance. This represents the maximum granted for this category of beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries of supplementary benefits to the AVS/AI are entitled, for their part, to a subsidy equivalent to their actual premium, within the limit of the cantonal average premium established by the Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) in accordance with the federal law on supplementary benefits to AVS-AI.
2025 budget for health insurance subsidies
In 2025, the amount allocated to the individual reduction of premiums in the canton should therefore amount to 149.5 million francs, financed by a contribution from the Confederation estimated at 73.5 million francs. The remaining 76 million francs are financed 60% by the Canton and 40% by the municipalities.
Formalities for obtaining a grant
Partial automaticity (or quasi-automaticity) in the delivery of subsidies in favor of ordinary beneficiaries is the rule. Concretely, insured persons are automatically sent a decision on the basis of their last tax declaration. They must then confirm the accuracy of the data by returning a reply coupon to obtain the subsidy. This validation helps prevent the risk of errors and abusive receipt of benefits.
People who do not yet benefit from a subsidy and who are entitled to it are in principle systematically informed, after their final assessment has been made. People who have self-employed status (in the tax sense) are also directed by mail to the Regional Social Desk (GSR) in their region to have their situation examined.
In addition, any person whose situation has changed and who finds themselves eligible for the subsidy can contact the GSR in their region to obtain useful information and submit, if necessary, an application for social benefits.
The Council of State reminds Neuchâtel residents that there is still time to change their basic insurance for next year. If this has not yet been done, choosing a more attractive fund and/or opting for a particular insurance model (family doctor, healthcare network, etc.) can significantly reduce the household bill without changing the level franchises. Advice is published on the internet page of the cantonal health insurance office: www.ne.ch/healthcare
