In Geneva, the Minister of Health Pierre Maudet sets three priorities to act on the level of premiums: the creation of a public cantonal fund, the development of care networks and the widespread use of electronic patient records.
Certain unexplained increases for Jura, fight against overmedicalization desired by the canton of Vaud, creation of a public fund in Geneva, increases in subsidies in Neuchâtel. The Latin cantons, like Friborg and Valais, are calling for an in-depth reform of the health system following the increases in health premiums announced for 2025.
The canton of Jura will record in 2025 the 3e highest average increase in LAMal premiums (+8.9%) nationally. A progression linked in part to the structure of the population: according to the Minister of Health Jacques Gerber, his canton has the largest proportion of population over 65 in Switzerland. This structural effect represents 40% of the increase.
For the rest, he questions the announced increase in costs in certain areas such as medicines and EMS. “We are being told of a 20% increase in EMS while the canton had estimated 5 to 6%. We cannot explain this difference,” adds Jacques Gerber, who also points to alternative models.
If the increase is “only” 4.6% in Neuchâtel, the LAMal premium of 431 francs will be the 4th most expensive in the country. “Even if the increase is lower than elsewhere in Switzerland, it will continue to undermine the purchasing power of households,” estimates Florence Nater, State Councilor in charge of social cohesion.
The canton will maintain the support measures taken for 2023 and 2024 with an increase in subsidies. It has provided an envelope for the individual reduction of premiums of 151 million francs, compared to 145 million in 2024.
In-depth reform
Valais calls for “an in-depth reform of the Swiss health system, both in terms of its governance and its financing”. The canton shows an increase in the average premium of 7.8%, certainly the least expensive in French-speaking Switzerland.
Valais plans to increase the amount allocated to the individual reduction of premiums from 12.6 million to 262.9 million francs. And to insist “on the need to reflect on the management of the Swiss health system”, calling on the Confederation “to quickly take measures in its fields of competence.
For the canton of Fribourg, “the system has reached its limits and the situation calls for in-depth reform of the system”. In 2025, the average monthly Friborg premium for all age categories combined will increase by 6.9%.
Fight against overmedicalization
The canton of Vaud is asking the Federal Chambers to “urgently” take measures to contain the increase in premiums. In 2025, the average monthly premium will reach 423 francs (+6.4%). The Vaudois subsidy system – unique in Switzerland – limits health insurance costs to a maximum of 10% of the determining income.
Vaud also expects the Confederation to reduce the price of medicines and fight against overmedicalization. Its Minister of Health Rebecca Ruiz calls for “analyzing the establishment of financing for benefits for very elderly people, because increasing the means to cope with aging can no longer be conceived via the current system of bonuses and contributions from the cantons.
His Geneva counterpart Pierre Maudet sets three priorities to act on the level of premiums: the creation of a public cantonal fund, the development of care networks and the widespread use of electronic patient records. It also counts on prevention. In 2025, the average monthly premium in the canton of Geneva will reach 477 francs, an increase of 6.5%.
Bernese health director Pierre Alain Schnegg calls for integrated care models. The insurance model of the Arc Health Network in the Bernese Jura has once again not recorded an increase in premiums.
Moratorium
With an increase of 10.5%, Ticino recorded the strongest increase of all the cantons for average premiums, all age groups combined. The Ticino Minister of Health speaks of a “very hard blow” for the population. The canton was the first to approve a moratorium on the granting of new operating authorizations to home help and care organizations, a measure aimed at stemming health costs.
