Swiss expand transparency initiative on insurance costs:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Swiss federal health office (BAG) has added historical data for the years 2003-2005 to its newly-established database on costs and premiums of the sickness funds. The BAG began adding data on costs at three-monthly intervals as of January 2006, in a transparency initiative that aims to track costs and foster understanding of healthcare cost structures and cost components. The cost monitoring shows that total Swiss healthcare costs paid by the funds in 2004-05 rose by 5.4%, while premiums rose by and 5.5%. Costs for ambulatory and GPs' treatments, prescribed medicines, inpatient procedures, care, pharmacy, lab and physio can all be seen at www.bag.admin.ch