Health insurance premiums Referendum launched against reduced premium reductions in Ticino
On Friday morning in Bellinzona, left-wing parties and trade unions submitted a referendum against the planned cuts to premium reductions. In December, the Ticino cantonal parliament approved a corresponding cost-cutting measure.
14.02.2025, 10:50
SDA
The decision of the Grand Council to cut premium reductions by CHF 10 million is "incomprehensible", according to the communiqué sent out by the SP Ticino. The cut means a "further hard blow" against Ticino families. According to the press release, 11,000 people have signed the "Stop ai tagli!" ("Stop the cuts!") have signed the referendum.
Last week, the Center Party of the Canton of Ticino had already demanded that the parliament revert to the decision to make cuts made during the budget debate. The reason: it has since become known that the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will distribute a profit share of around CHF 80 million to the canton of Ticino. This will change the financial situation of the canton, the center party announced.
Highest increase in premiums in Switzerland
The canton of Ticino, which has been in the red for years, must make savings. The reason for this is a spending brake that the Ticino electorate approved in 2022. Last year, there were several large demonstrations against the government's savings plans.
At the same time, Ticino recorded the highest increase of all cantons for 2025 in average health insurance premiums across all age groups at 10.5 percent.
The head of the Ticino Department of Health, Raffaele De Rosa, assumes that the rise in premiums will also mean that more people will need a health insurance reduction. Last year, almost one in three people in Ticino received a premium reduction, a total of 110,000 people.
