Over the past two years, health insurance premiums have risen sharply. Good quality health cover at a competitive price thanks to their company is therefore a real benefit to both employees and employers. In this context, a group health insurance policy is an attractive solution, as with the LAMal [mandatory Swiss health insurance scheme] basic policy, it offers a choice of additional policies (Insurance Policy Law (LCA)) tailored for the group of persons to be insured, and a discount on the overall amount of the premium may be offered. There is only one requirement for a group policy to constitute a "benefit": the employer must contribute to the premium. It is, of course, a financial effort, but given the numerous benefits it entails, it should be viewed as a real investment.
The benefits of a group health insurance policy for the employer
Simplification of the day-to-day management of a healthcare scheme
The coordination and management of a group health insurance policy is generally entrusted to an insurance broker. At Swiss Risk & Care, we have a Caredesk consisting of a team of dedicated advisors available for our clients to respond to all requests from the company or employees. This team liaises between the policyholder and the insurance company.
The company has the option of contributing either fully or partly to the premium.
Payment is made by means of a grouped invoice that is paid directly by the employer who will then deduct the employee contribution from their salary. Swiss Risk & Care will prepare the breakdown of premiums between the employee and employer for the company's payroll.
A more attractive employer brand
Faced with the structural shortage of labour currently affecting all sectors in Switzerland, which is expected to continue for several more years with the "baby boomer" generation taking retirement, companies need to stand out from their competitors in order to attract and retain talent. Offering a health insurance scheme that is attractive both financially and in terms of coverage is a particularly effective lever.
Better control over absenteeism
Good health insurance cover has a direct impact on employee absenteeism rates: they receive treatment of higher quality and are not forced to forego treatment for financial reasons, they can undergo preventive examinations more easily etc.. All these factors have a direct impact on the number of days off on sick leave and ensure a quicker return to work.
Better management of premiums
With absenteeism under better control, increases in personal insurance premiums will be limited. The optimisation of social charges also has an impact on the company's tax situation.
The benefits of a group health insurance policy for the employee
Optimised healthcare coverage
By using a broker, the employer will benefit from full support. After analysing their insurance portfolio and a call for tenders from several insurance providers, the broker will offer the employer a comprehensive range of policies from which to compare coverage and rates. Employees will therefore benefit in three ways: part of their premium will be paid for by their employer, they will benefit from discounts on supplementary insurance, and their coverage will often be better than that offered by an individual policy. Depending on the terms of the group contract, it may also include family members and, in certain cases, the possibility to get a vested benefit at the entrance.
Ongoing advice and support
Swiss Risk & Care's Medical Expenses Caredesk offers information sessions for employees in both group and individual sessions. It will help any new employee with the membership process, as well as employees leaving the company, either for the purpose of terminating their policy, or to allow portability of policy if conditions allow.
Greater savings with a group policy and the employer reimbursement of services scheme: a Swiss Risk & Care exclusive
The mandatory Swiss health insurance scheme (LAMal) excess amount is between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500. Swiss Risk & Care offers group policyholders the possibility of taking out the highest excess of CHF 2,500. The simulated premium savings between the highest and lowest excess are invoiced to the employer and paid into a deposit account.
This deposit enables employers to self-finance and self-insure part of the services that are not reimbursed under the LAMal scheme.
The technical result of the employer reimbursement of services scheme enables employees to benefit, as before, from coverage of their healthcare costs from as little as CHF 300, as well as enabling employers to make financial savings.
For example, a company employing 100 staff with an average of CHF 600 in medical expenses reimbursed per person per year (between the excess of CHF 300 and the excess of CHF 2,500), i.e. an annual amount of CHF 60,000, would pay the following premiums:
- Annual premiums with an excess of CHF 300: CHF 690,000
- Annual premiums with an excess amount of CHF 2,500: CHF 547,080
In this case, the company pays only the premiums with the excess of CHF 2,500, plus any medical expenses previously reimbursed with the lower excess: CHF 547,080 + CHF 60,000 = CHF 607,080 instead of CHF 690,000, i.e. savings of CHF 82,920 (12%) from which Swiss Risk & Care will be paid a 20% management fee.
Swiss Risk & Care takes care of administrative matters, i.e. receiving invoices from insurers, issuing reimbursements to employees and quarterly re-invoicing of the expenses incurred by the company.
Our methodology
1. AUDIT OF THE CURRENT PORTFOLIO
- Analysis and understanding of the current situation
- Advice and recommendations from our experts
- Setting up a call for tenders with various insurers depending on the type of policy chosen
2 REPORT AND COMPARISON
- Preparing a comprehensive comparison (coverage and rates) based on insurers' offers
- Discussion on the most suitable solutions
- Setting up the policy
3 MANAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFER
- Management of setting up policyholder coverage or transfer between insurers
- Employee information sessions (on-site presentations and individual advice)
- Advice on termination of your current policy and adhesion to the new policy from our multilingual Caredesk
4 DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT
- Day-to-day management of policyholders during the term of the policy by our dedicated Caredesk
- Advice and adhesion for new members
- Invoice management, in the case of group invoicing, on request
- Management of excess amounts, on request
