Promoting personal responsibility
CSS campaigns to prevent health costs from rising more sharply in the future. There is no patent remedy for this. But there are a number of possible solutions. One of these is promoting personal responsibility among patients. By assuming responsibility for their own health, patients can make a contribution to reducing the rate of growth in health care costs. Mandatory health insurance has two main pillars through which patients can assume greater self-responsibility. On the one hand, there are alternative insurance models where insured persons undertake to follow the recommendations of their family doctor or doctors' network, for example. In this way, insured persons are guided efficiently through the healthcare system, receiving better care, and unnecessary treatment costs are eliminated. On the other, self-responsibility can be supplemented by means of a sensible co-payment arrangement. The various levels of deductible, in particular, reduce the take-up of benefits and thus create an incentive to make savings. As a health partner, CSS helps its insured persons to take more responsibility when they fall ill (“becoming healthy” and “living with illness”). myGuide, for example, gives insured persons access to a digital service developed by medical professionals and health informatics specialists. MyGuide checks their symptoms and provides recommendations on whether they should go to the doctor, pharmacy or hospital. And if not, it gives them tips on how to treat their complaint.
CSS sees products and offers related to prevention (“stay healthy”), e.g. with the help of apps, as an important way in which to promote self-responsibility. At present, this applies in particular to supplementary insurance. As far as basic insurance is concerned, the following criteria must be observed if the principle of solidarity and risk equalisation is not to be undermined: The offer must be voluntary and may only be made in connection with alternative insurance models that are taken out voluntarily. In this context, it must be made available to all insured persons regardless of their age or state of health, and it must bring benefits to everyone involved. Health-conscious behaviour must not be rewarded through additional premium discounts or other benefits in kind. A reward in the form of a reduction in the co-payment if any benefits are drawn constitutes the one exception.
There is no specific mandate at present that would allow the special provisions on prevention and health promotion to be coordinated, the common principles and aims to be firmly established, and any partnerships to be enshrined in law. From CSS's point of view, such a mandate would be pivotal in supporting targeted health promotion and awarenessraising, and thus in strengthening the personal responsibility of the insured persons.
Your health partner
As a health partner, we are committed to leading a healthy life, actively taking steps to regain one's health and developing a mindful approach to illness.
