Summary

The Federal Department of the Interior is opening a consultation procedure for the revision of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG). The goal is to adjust insurance deductibles to current economic conditions. The change is intended to enable regular but moderate adjustments and is based on Motion 24.3636 by parliamentarian Friedli. The consultation period ends on June 22, 2026.

People

Topics

  • Health insurance law
  • Deductible regulations
  • Legislative revision
  • Consultation procedure

Clarus Lead

The Swiss Parliament has mandated the adjustment of health insurance deductibles through Motion 24.3636. The Federal Department of the Interior is now launching a formal consultation procedure to prepare the necessary legislative changes. The planned revision aims to enable regular and moderate adjustments of deductibles without fundamentally changing the system.

Detailed Summary

Motion 24.3636 by Friedli, titled "Adjusting minimum deductibles to real circumstances," forms the basis for this legislative revision. It addresses a known problem of the current KVG: deductibles are rigid and are not regularly adjusted to economic development. This leads to loss of purchasing power and complicates cost coverage in the insurance system.

The planned change is intended to establish a mechanism that enables moderate, regular adjustments – likely linked to inflation indices or similar objective criteria. This would make the KVG more flexible and avoid unnecessary revisions in Parliament.

The consultation period of more than three months (March 13 to June 22, 2026) gives cantons, insurers, employer associations, and other stakeholders the opportunity to present their positions. The detailed consultation can be viewed on the FedLex platform.

Key Points

  • Consultation procedure for KVG revision begins on March 13, 2026
  • Goal: Regular, moderate adjustment of insurance deductibles
  • Legal basis: Motion 24.3636 (Friedli)
  • Deadline for submissions: June 22, 2026
  • Background: Current deductibles no longer correspond to real economic conditions

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What empirical data shows that current deductibles no longer correspond to real conditions? How was the need for adjustment quantified?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which stakeholders benefit from higher deductibles (insurers, employers) and which are disadvantaged (insured persons with low incomes)? How is this distributional impact considered in the revision?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Are regular automatic adjustments truly the best solution, or should adjustments continue to be decided by Parliament to preserve political control?

  4. Feasibility/Risks: What risks arise from automated adjustment mechanisms? Could too frequent adjustments unsettle the insured or lead to administrative burden?

  5. Side Effects: How does an increase in deductibles affect insurance coverage rates, particularly in low-income households?

  6. Data Basis: Which inflation or cost increase indices are planned as adjustment criteria, and is this choice based on scientific recommendations?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Revision of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG): Adjustment of Deductibles – News Service Federal Government, March 13, 2026

Supplementary Sources:

  1. Consultation Platform FedLex – Detailed consultation on the revision

Verification Status: ✓ March 13, 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: March 13, 2026