Health insurance companies: Code of conduct restricts telephone advertising and telemarketing
Health insurance companies have committed to significantly restricting and regulating marketing aimed at recruiting basic insurance policyholders. The Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) and santésuisse hope that the code of conduct will result in savings of between 60 and 100 million Swiss francs.
According to the agreement, general telephone advertising - so-called cold calling - may no longer be paid for out of basic insurance. However, advice over the phone remains permissible if customers expressly agree to it, Stefan Kaufmann, Director of santésuisse, told the media in Bern on Thursday, according to SDA
The insurers also undertake to refrain from cold calling for basic insurance. If brokers or internet services act as intermediaries for basic insurance, the commission per contract may not exceed CHF 50 - this may be charged to the basic insurance.
