Theme sheet Published: 2006-11-20
Reduce the level of sickness absence!
Health insurance should compensate for loss of income when you due to illness are unable to work. Today health insurance is also used by those who are able to work. The high level of sickness absence is used as an excuse to burden the enterprises with additional costs. - What changes are needed in the health insurance scheme in order to protect those who need protection and at the same time prevent over-utilization?
What does Confederation of Swedish Enterprise want?
Sweden´s record-high level of sickness absence must be significantly reduced. Well-functioning health insurance should give a measure of financial security to those who are ill and, at the same time, discourage over-utilization. Health insurance should be used for what it is intended for, to provide sickness benefits to those who due to illness are unable to work. The co-financing of benefits that has been forced upon employers must be abolished.
What is the situation today?
Sickness absence has increased to record-high levels, especially in the public sector. At the same time the Swedish population is healthier than ever before. The current high level of sickness absence is not due to impaired health. A major part of the explanation is that is possible to be sick-listed in spite of being able to work. The criteria for receiving benefits, including disability pension, have in practice been broadened to also include many conditions that have nothing to do with illness or inability to work. Many consider it acceptable to be sick-listed even if you are not sick. Poor administrative control has further increased the problems, as have waiting-times in the health care system and high work-loads in the insurance administration. The deficiencies in the system have led to that the costs for insurance have risen sharply. The high costs are a burden for society as a whole. Both tax-payers and enterprises must cover these costs. The employer´s costs for sick pay and sickness benefits amount to appr 170 billion SEK annually. To this must be added the economic consequences of reduced production, reduced quality and other production problems. Parliament decided in 2004 to increase the employer cofinancing of sickness benefits, disregarding the fact that in general it is not the situation at work that cause individuals to become sick-listed. For that reason most agree that this increased financial burden is deeply unfair. The increased financial burden also causes enterprises to be more cautious with new hiring, especially with individuals who have a history of ill health or who have reduced working capacity.
What is required?
Abolish employer´s co-financing of sickness benefits. Only those who due to ill health are unable to work should be entitled to sickness benefits and disability pensions, i.e. the basic criteria must be restored. The level of benefits should be reduced and the timeperiod for benefits should be limited.
