The Swiss Health Care System

Swiss Health Model Gains Admirers ZURICH — Like every other the Swiss system involves some system is different from virtu- country in Europe, Switzerland trade-offs that U.S. consumers, ally every other country in the guarantees health care for all its insurers and health care provid- world,” said Regina Herzlinger, citizens. But the system here does ers might find hard to swallow. a Harvard Business School pro- not remotely resemble the model The Swiss government care- fessor who has studied the Swiss of socialized medicine often cited fully regulates drug prices and approach. by opponents of universal cover- fees for lab tests and medical “What I like about it is that age in the United States. devices. It also requires patients it’s got universal coverage, it’s Swiss private insurers are re- to share some costs — at a higher customer driven, and there are quired to offer coverage to all citi- level than in the United States — no intermediaries shopping on zens, regardless of age or medi- so they have an incentive to avoid people’s behalf,” she added. “And cal history. And those people, in unnecessary treatments. And there’s no waiting lists or ration- turn, are obligated to buy health some doctors grumble that cost ing like in the U.K. or Canada.” insurance. controls are making it harder Since being made mandatory That is why many academ- these days for a physician to in 1996, the Swiss system has be- ics who have studied the Swiss make a franc. come a popular model for experts health care system have pointed The Swiss government also seeking alternatives to govern- to this nation of about 7.5 million provides direct cash subsidies to ment-run health care. The Swiss as a model that delivers much of people if health insurance equals approach is also popular with pa- what Washington is aiming to ac- more than 8 percent of personal tients like Frieda Burgstaller, 72, complish — without the conten- income, and about 35 to 40 percent who says she likes the access that tious option of a government-run of households get some form of the private system provides. “If insurance plan. subsidy. In some cases, employ- the doctor says it has to be done, By many measures, the Swiss ers contribute part of the insur- it’s done,” said Burgstaller. “You are healthier than Americans, ance premium, but, unlike in the don’t wait. And it’s covered.” and surveys indicate that Swiss United States, they do not receive Still, along with lower costs and people are generally happy with a tax break for it. And unlike the the freedom to choose doctors their medical system. Switzer- United States, where the Medi- come bigger bills for individual land, moreover, provides high care program costs taxpayers patients. On average, out-of-pock- quality care at costs well below about $500 billion a year, there is et payments come to $1,350 annu- what the United States spends no special break here for the el- ally. That is well above the $890 per person. derly. average for the United States. And yet, as a potential model, “Switzerland’s health care NELSON D. SCHWARTZ
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