Holes in the Swiss Health Care System
- Isabelle Peytremann Bridevaux, MD, MPH
-
isabelle.peytremann-bridevaux@hospvd.ch
- Brigitte Santos-Eggimann, MD, MPH, DrPH
-
Health Services Research Unit
University Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine
Lausanne, Switzerland
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- COSTS AND COST ANALYSIS
- INSURANCE, HEALTH
- QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
- SWITZERLAND
- UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
To the Editor: We believe that the Special Communication by Drs Herzlinger and Parsa-Parsi1 illustrates some misconceptions about the Swiss health care system.
First, we do not agree with the assertion that health care costs are controlled in Switzerland. Health care expenditures continue to rise2 and Switzerland ranks second after the United States in terms of health expenditure per capita. Second, basic coverage is strictly regulated by the federal Health Insurance Law and is identical for all health insurance plans, making real “experimentation in insurance policies’ coverage, benefits, and terms” impossible. The choices for Swiss residents are limited to higher deductibles, bonus plans, or managed care schemes.
Third, not only is there a paucity of quality indicators about health care practitioners but also, when such data are available, their interpretation by consumers may be superficial and may ultimately deter practitioners from accepting high-risk patients. Nevertheless, Swiss residents gain …
