2023-12-03 11:34:55
Health Insurance Companies Required to Cover HIV Prevention Medication
After years of debate, the Federal Council has made the decision to require health insurance companies to cover the costs of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) starting from July 2024. This move has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing outrage and others welcoming the decision.
PrEP is a medication that protects against infection with HIV and is typically taken seven days before engaging in sexual activity and for an additional seven days afterward. Up until now, the costs for PrEP have had to be paid for by the user, amounting to around 65 francs per month. This has been a significant financial burden for many users, particularly those in at-risk groups.
The decision has been welcomed by advocacy groups such as Pink Cross, which represents the gay community. Roman Heggli, managing director of Pink Cross, stated that good prevention is based on reality and that the vast majority of homosexual men do protect themselves. He emphasized that it is the job of politicians to achieve good public health and not to judge people’s sexual behavior.
However, the decision has also sparked outrage from the umbrella organization of health insurance companies, Santésuisse. Christoph Kilchenmann, deputy director of Santésuisse, expressed incomprehension at the decision, stating that it is unfair for premium payers to finance expensive medications when everyone can actually protect themselves. The organization estimates that covering the costs of PrEP will amount to around six million francs per year due to the 5,000 to 7,000 current users.
The decision to require health insurance companies to cover the costs of PrEP from July 2024 has ignited a debate surrounding the responsibility of public health authorities and the moral implications of such a decision. While some view it as a crucial step in ensuring access to HIV prevention for at-risk groups, others argue that it places an unfair burden on insurance premium payers.]
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