Ban on telemarketing
The National Council’s decision on the urgent bill to reduce health insurance costs could have economic consequences outside the healthcare sector if the law is ultimately adopted. Article 22, paragraph 1bis, of the federal law, which was passed by a vote of 89 to 87, stipulates: «The payment of insurance commissions in any form and the financing of telemarketing are prohibited.»
At its meeting on September 9, 2009, the National Council decided on amendments to the Federal Health Insurance Act and measures to curb the cost trend. The aim of the package, which was adopted by 113 votes to 58, is to take rapid and effective measures to reduce costs in the healthcare system and thus limit the announced premium increases to an "acceptable level". According to the Swiss Direct Marketing Association (SDV), a decision was lost in the discussion and media coverage of the urgent measures that will lead to economic consequences outside the healthcare sector if the law is definitively adopted.
Art. 22 para. 1bis of the Federal Act, which was adopted by 89 votes to 87, provides for the following:
"The payment of insurance commissions in any form and the financing of telephone advertising are prohibited." This was announced by the Direct Marketing Association in a commentary on the National Council's decision on the bill. According to the National Council's Committee for Social Security and Health, at whose request the article was included in the Federal Council's draft bill, the purpose of this article is to reduce administrative costs in the healthcare sector. According to the SDV, the Commission cites the following argument: the general discussion about bonuses and commissions and the generalization of advertising calls as a "nuisance for the population".
However, the ban on telephone advertising in the proposed blanket form clearly puts one sector at a disadvantage, the SDV continued. Even Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin spoke of a "restriction of freedom of advertising and freedom of trade" during the debate. He himself described the Commission's proposal as a well-intentioned article, but one that misses the mark.
Art. 22 para. 1bis of the Federal Act, which was adopted by 89 votes to 87, provides for the following:
"The payment of insurance commissions in any form and the financing of telephone advertising are prohibited." This was announced by the Direct Marketing Association in a commentary on the National Council's decision on the bill. According to the National Council's Committee for Social Security and Health, at whose request the article was included in the Federal Council's draft bill, the purpose of this article is to reduce administrative costs in the healthcare sector. According to the SDV, the Commission cites the following argument: the general discussion about bonuses and commissions and the generalization of advertising calls as a "nuisance for the population".
However, the ban on telephone advertising in the proposed blanket form clearly puts one sector at a disadvantage, the SDV continued. Even Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin spoke of a "restriction of freedom of advertising and freedom of trade" during the debate. He himself described the Commission's proposal as a well-intentioned article, but one that misses the mark.
