The fourth edition of Tech4Eva, the only FemTech start-up accelerator in Switzerland, comes to an end today with a closing ceremony to be held at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) on the topic of maternal health. To date, the start-ups who took part in the four editions have raised more than CHF 200 million.

Groupe Mutuel and Hôpital de La Tour are pleased to announce that they have signed a three-year rates agreement, effective from 1 October 2024 until the end of 2027, aimed at offering high-quality healthcare to patients insured with Groupe Mutuel for private and semi-private hospitalisation, without any restrictions.

A new model from the University of Lucerne, using data from a pilot project run by Groupe Mutuel and the University Hospital Basel, shows how healthcare services can be remunerated according to their quality. Cost-neutral pricing is based on a bonus financed by savings of CHF 1.7 to 8.5 million a year (extrapolated to Switzerland). The joint project, based on the principles of "Value-based Healthcare", is now entering its second phase with new partners such as the Luzerner Kantonspital.

The fate of the reform of the second pillar pension scheme (LPP/BVG), to be put to the vote on 22 September, remains highly uncertain. Swiss people remain extremely divided at a time when adjustments to the system are more urgent than ever. This is the result of an exclusive survey conducted by the MIS Trend institute, in partnership with Le Temps and Groupe Mutuel. The results of this survey will be presented in detail at the fifth edition of Forum Prévoyance, due to take place on Tuesday 3 September 2024 at the IMD in Lausanne.

The Swiss population is finding it increasingly difficult to access healthcare, in particular because of the high costs involved. According to a recent study by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)*, 15 to 20% of the population forego healthcare for financial reasons. In Geneva, Groupe Mutuel and Réseau Delta are strengthening their partnership to provide new solutions to patients, in particular through the insurer's OptiMed alternative model.

Launched two years ago, the PrimaFlex alternative basic insurance model enables Groupe Mutuel policyholders to choose their first point of contact when seeking medical care: a family doctor, a telemedicine partner or a consultation in a pharmacy. For this third option, insureds may choose to visit new partner pharmacies, most of which are independent. Our network of partners now covers over half of the pharmacies in Switzerland.

Switzerland’s biggest health insurers are joining forces to found a new trade association, which will start work at the beginning of 2025. This new association is intended to end the duality of the two umbrella organisations and thus strengthen the representation of interests in the health insurance industry. The stakeholders will present a unified front in the future.

Groupe Mutuel has published its first ever Sustainability Report with the aim of highlighting its corporate citizenship policy. The aim is to ensure transparency on environmental, social, staff and human rights issues. This report, which covers the year 2023, is an assessment of Groupe Mutuel's commitment to sustainability and the starting point for its future strategy and action plan.

With the acquisition of 63,000 new insured persons in 2023, Groupe Mutuel has strengthened its position as Switzerland's third largest health insurer. Our Corporate Sector also continued to grow, now recording 29,500 corporate customers (+1,500), which consolidates our position as the fifth largest insurer in Switzerland in this sector. The same applies to life insurance. A new feature this year is the publication of our first comprehensive sustainability report.

The only Swiss-based FemTech accelerator, Tech4Eva, is entering its fourth edition with another record number of applications. In its 2024 edition, the start-up acceleration programme of Groupe Mutuel and the EPFL Innovation Park will be supporting 17 start-ups from a wide range of fields of women’s health.

On behalf of Groupe Mutuel, the University of St. Gallen has analysed for the first time in Switzerland whether insured persons make more use of medical services after having reached their deductible. The study concluded that the health insurance deductible system does not create any significant financial incentives for overuse of medical care.