The temperatures are rising and the summer vacations are approaching. I’m sure you’re looking forward to a well-deserved vacation. You’re already mentally packing your travel suitcase and know what books you want to read. Perhaps you will also pack a suitcase for a trip in the field of professional politics.
A particularly large chunk is the standardized health insurance scheme, the introduction of which will be decided by the Swiss electorate on September 28, 2014. So no sooner are the hopefully relaxing vacations over than the task is to prevent a new state juggernaut. A not entirely simple task. After all, everything is supposed to become simpler and cheaper. The cash register bosses could finally have their salaries cut and the annoying cash register advertising would disappear. The sweet promises of the initiators could also trigger a desire for revenge among some colleagues. For example, some people remember the denial of a benefit by an incompetent health insurance official.
The temptation to teach the cash barons a lesson is very strong, as the saying goes: “Revenge is as sweet as honey! It is worthwhile, however, to reconsider the issue of the single fund with a cool head, because in the recent past, a shot across the bow has turned into a shot into one’s own knee in federal votes! So when you are in the mountains in the evening freshness enjoying the sunset or lying on your bath towel after a cooling swim, be it in the sea, in the mountain lake or in the pool, you should reconsider the matter with a cool head. Parliament and the Federal Council recommend rejecting the initiative. You want to review the arguments against it again personally? You have already read my arguments in HAUSARZT PRAXIS 4/2014. For more arguments, visit http://alliance-sante.ch.
No, you should not pack the single health insurance fund in your professional political luggage, but make preparations for the vote before the vacations, because when you return from vacation, the flyers “Single health insurance fund – No Thanks!” should already be in your waiting room!
I wish you a relaxing summer vacation.
Josef Widler, MD
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2014; 9(7): 1
