title: [The Swiss health insurance carriers in managed care].
abstract: The Swiss health care system is currently undergoing radical changes. The balance of power is clearly shifting from the service-providers to the health insurers. Excessive patient demands combined with proliferation of medically unnecessary treatment have led to an inflation of cost equivalent to several billion Swiss francs. Managed Care is a new instrument that enables the insurers to influence patient behavior and, hence, the services offered in an integrated fashion. The key factors necessary for the success of this process are: Clear and timely information with the insured Product design based on precise segmentation Cost effective service-purchasing based on insured requirements Use of insurer-owned service providers to encourage competition The success of Managed Care in Switzerland will largely depend on the readiness of health care stake-holders to adapt, learn, and cooperate in a constructive, professional, and open-minded framework.
authors.affiliation: Verband Zürcher Krankenversicherer.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geser
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007343:Insurance Carriers / Q000191:economics*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D013557:Switzerland