13 December 2024 – The Federal Council has initiated the consultation procedure on the amendment of the Health Insurance Act (Krankenversicherungsgesetz, KVG). Under the proposed changes, compulsory health insurance (obligatorische Krankenpflegeversicherung, OKP) would cover the costs of certain medical supplies and devices purchased privately by insured individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA). The aim of this adjustment is to reduce costs and promote competition by taking advantage of the lower prices available abroad.

Currently, medical supplies and devices purchased abroad are generally not reimbursed under the OKP due to the territoriality principle. However, the Federal Council proposes to amend this regulation to allow the reimbursement for certain medical products purchased within the EEA. This change will primarily affect consumables such as bandages, blood glucose test strips, and orthoses, which account for a significant portion of the cost volume of reimbursed items under the OKP. In 2021, the cost volume of the Medical Supplies and Devices List (Mittel- und Gegenständeliste, MiGeL) amounted to approximately CHF 630 million.

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