The guest: sickness premiums, the pill is difficult to swallow

Every year, it’s the same blow: the announcement of the increase in health insurance premiums. This time, it was the Federal Councilor in charge of health, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, who presented the bad news to the press. For 2025, premiums will increase by 6% on average, or an increase of 21.60 francs per month for each insured person.

In Geneva, it’s even worse. With an increase of 6.5%, the average premium will reach 477.50 francs per month (+29.30 francs), the highest amount in the country. For an adult, it will rise to 572 francs (+6%), while for young adults, the increase will be 3% and will even reach 7% for children. In other words, families will particularly feel the weight of this increase on their budget.

This new increase is in addition to that of 2024, where Genevans had already seen their monthly premium increase by 44.60 francs for an adult and 110.40 francs for a couple with two children. Over the last three years, the increase amounts to 100 francs for an adult in Geneva. Significant amounts in a canton where the cost of living far exceeds that of the Swiss average. Moreover, nearly 200,000 people, or nearly 40% of the population, already benefit from subsidies to cover their insurance premiums.

This increase adds to an already heavy burden for Geneva households, faced with constantly rising rents, energy and food costs. Geneva is also among the three most expensive cities in the world, according to “The Economist”. In a canton where housing is among the most expensive in Switzerland, the situation becomes particularly critical for the middle class. Faced with this accumulation of burdens, the middle class finds itself at the heart of concerns.

In November, Genevans will be able to vote on a tax reform proposed by the Council of State, providing for an average tax cut of 8.7%, with reductions ranging from 5.4% to 11.4%. This measure would give taxpayers a breath of fresh air without calling into question services to the population. Despite this possible reduction, Geneva would remain the canton with the highest maximum tax burden on income in Switzerland, in intercantonal comparison.

Next November’s election therefore represents a decisive opportunity to reduce the financial burden weighing on Geneva’s middle class, an essential pillar of the canton’s social and economic stability.

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