"Gregory Morrow" > wrote in message
>
> Swiss private insurers are required to offer coverage to all citizens,
> regardless of age or medical history. And those people, in turn, are
> obligated to buy health insurance.
>

That sounds so nice and simple. Where does the money come from to buy that
insurance when you are not working though?

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> "Gregory Morrow" > wrote in message
>>
>> Swiss private insurers are required to offer coverage to all
>> citizens, regardless of age or medical history. And those people, in
>> turn, are obligated to buy health insurance.
>>
>
> That sounds so nice and simple. Where does the money come from to buy
> that insurance when you are not working though?


The government subsidises the payments for those not able to afford
insurance...IIRC the poverty rate is very low. The Swiss are about as
thrifty - some say "cheap" - as can be, they did not become a banking centre
with a high standard of living for nothing. In the "cheapskate" category
they rank right up with the Dutch. Both the Dutch and the Swiss have built
top - class economies over the centuries, despite their lack of resources
and being tiny places...the Swiss also are very "particular" about who they
let live in their country, a lesson the Dutch have recently learned. It's
very difficult to go to Switzerland or the Netherlands now with the
intention of sponging off the government...they want productive citizens.
Denmark is the same way...


--
Best
Greg