Category Archive: 3.) Personal Finance

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A recent purchase shows how hard it is to trust product packaging

2017-02-06

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2017-02-06

Volkswagen shocked the world when it was revealed it was cheating on emissions tests on a grand scale. Now some television makers may be gaming the energy efficiency ratings of some of their televisions, according to the Economist.

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More than 3,000 state beneficiaries in Geneva admit not declaring assets or other income

2017-02-01

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2017-02-01

© Gvictoria – Dreamstime.com
Last October, Geneva state councillor Mauro Poggia, had his department send out close to 91,000 letters to those receiving social benefits, asking them to contact the authorities if they had failed to declare any assets or income. Laurent Paoliello, a spokesperson from the DEAS, said they received 3,200 letters back. So far, we haven’t been through all the letters, he said.

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Those over 25 may pay more for Swiss health insurance

2017-01-28

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2017-01-28

The Swiss States Council commission on public health endorsed a plan that could lead to higher health insurance premiums for those over 25. Swiss health insurance providers are required to pay into a communal pot to spread risk between insurance companies.

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Changes to health insurance zones could lead to steep premium rises for some

2017-01-23

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2017-01-23

In Switzerland, how much you pay for compulsory health insurance depends on where you live. Premiums vary hugely by canton. For 2016, average monthly adult premiums in Basel City are CHF 545.60, Switzerland’s most expensive, compared to CHF 326.70, in lowest-cost Appenzell-Innerhoden. The difference between the two cantons is 40%.

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Switzerland’s costliest cantons for tax, housing, health, commuting, and childcare

2017-01-22

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2017-01-22

Credit Suisse Cantonal RDI 2016
This week the bank Credit Suisse published its cantonal cost of living report. Its ranking considers a typical household’s biggest expenses: tax, housing, commuting, basic health insurance and childcare. It takes income and deducts all of these costs to arrive at a measure of disposable income.

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Swiss mortgage rates climb in 4th quarter

2017-01-21

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2017-01-21

Swiss-mortgage-rates
After reaching a historical low in the third quarter of 2016, rates started rising in the fourth quarter. Rate increases hit mortgage tenors of five and ten years. Compared to Q3, fixed mortgage rates on loans of ten years went up an average 0.2% to 1.62% according to price comparison website Comparis.ch.

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Swiss government plan to reduce doctors’ visits

2016-01-29

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2016-01-29

Waiting-for-doctor
Some Swiss politicians would like to focus minds on the costs of going to the doctor to reduce the number going for the most minor of reasons. Their plan would require deductibles to rise annually in line with increases in the cost of basic health insurance. Higher deductibles, they think, would put people off going to the doctor unecessarily, reducing pressure on the health system.

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