Executive Summary
On 24 June 2026, the Federal Council decided on an amendment to the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) and submitted it to Parliament for consultation. The innovation is intended to enable mandatory health insurance (OKP) to reimburse certain medical devices and equipment that insured persons purchase privately in the European Economic Area (EEA). Previously, the territoriality principle applied, whereby medical devices purchased abroad were generally not reimbursed by the OKP. The proposal is intended to enable cost savings and promote competition without including pharmaceuticals.
Persons
- Federal Council (Swiss government body)
Topics
- Health insurance law
- Medical devices and cost reimbursement
- European Economic Area (EEA)
- Health policy
Clarus Lead
The proposal addresses a structural problem in Swiss health policy: while insured persons in neighboring countries can often purchase more cheaply, the territoriality principle has so far prevented the OKP from benefiting from these price differences. With the planned liberalization for the EEA area, the Federal Council signals an openness to competitive mechanisms in the medical devices sector – an approach that could exert pressure on cost dynamics without completely abandoning regulation. Implementation remains flexible: the Federal Council reserves the right to a time-limited implementation to evaluate effects.
Detailed Summary
The innovation primarily affects consumable materials and other medical devices listed in the Means and Equipment List (MiGeL) – such as wound care materials, blood glucose tests, and orthoses. In 2023, these product groups accounted for approximately 50 percent of the MiGeL cost volume, which amounted to 727 million francs. By permitting imports from the EEA, insured persons and health insurance companies could benefit from sometimes lower foreign prices. Implementation is the responsibility of the Federal Council and the Federal Department of the Interior (EDI), which will determine which products fall under the new regulation.
The amendment proposal is based on Motion 16.3169 Heim and deliberately excludes pharmaceuticals, which will continue not to be reimbursed if purchased abroad. Actual cost savings depend on whether insurers and insured persons will use the new option in practice.
Key Points
- The Federal Council proposes to partially abolish the territoriality principle in the OKP and open medical devices from the EEA for reimbursement.
- The innovation affects approximately 50 percent of the MiGeL cost volume (2023: 727 million francs) and is intended to promote competition.
- Pharmaceuticals remain excluded; implementation can be time-limited to assess impacts.
Critical Questions
Evidence: What empirical data from other countries or pilot projects show that liberalization actually leads to measurable cost savings?
Conflicts of Interest: How will health insurance companies and medical device manufacturers adjust pricing when insured persons are legally permitted to purchase abroad – is there a risk of price fixing?
Causality: Are lower foreign prices explained by genuine cost efficiency or by different regulatory standards in the EEA, and can price alignment be sustained long-term?
Implementation Risks: How will the Federal Council ensure that quality and safety standards are met for products purchased abroad without administrative costs exploding?
Time Limitation: What concrete success criteria will be defined for the evaluative review, and how will it be decided whether the regulation will be extended or terminated?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Federal Council Proposes KVG Amendment on Procurement of Means and Equipment in the EEA – news.admin.ch, 24.06.2026
Supplementary Sources:
- Federal Department of the Interior (EDI): KVG Amendment on Procurement of Means and Equipment in the EEA
- Motion 16.3169 Heim: Reimbursement Obligation of Health Insurance Companies for Medical Devices and Equipment Purchased Abroad
Verification Status: ✓ 24.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 24.06.2026