Page:CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3.pdf/32

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3

supplements for disability, and, where the need exists, a housing allowance and supplements for specialized child care.

The national supplementary pension (ATP), like the basic pension, is tied to the cost-of-living index. Unlike the basic pension, however, which (with minor exceptions) is equal for all regardless of income, that ATP is related to previous income. A ceiling on such income is set, beyond which earnings do not qualify for benefits. For 1970 the ceiling was SKr45,000. In August 1969 the supplementary pension came to about SKr8,800 for a person who earlier earned an annual income of SKr20,000 and to about SKr23,400 for a person previously earning SKr45,000 a year. The supplementary pension is added to the basic pension, and, generally, the total amounts to about two-thirds of the income earned by a pensioner during his 15 best-paid years.

Figure 20 describes the financing of the basic and supplementary pensions. The basic pension contributions by the insured are paid by all persons between 17 and 66 years of age who are not receiving a pension. The charge is a certain percentage (about 4%) of the insured person's taxable income. In 1970 the employer's contribution to the supplementary pension was 10% of the employee's pay. Since coverage for the self-employed is not compulsory, they must pay their own premiums.

b. Health insurance

All Swedish citizens and resident aliens registered for census purposes are covered by health insurance. Under the program, allowances and reimbursements defray payments for treatment by a doctor and in certain cases a density, for hospitalization, for travel costs, and for medical prescriptions. Health and medical care is mainly the responsibility of provincial councils, each of which has a general hospital under its jurisdiction. A uniform tariff applies to the public outpatient services of these hospitals: SKr7 for visiting a doctor in his office, SKr15 for a home visit, and SKr2 for a telephone consultation. If a patient chooses to consult a private practitioner, he is reimbursed for three-fourths of the cost of the doctor's bills. A necessary condition for reimbursement of dental fees is that treatment be related to disease, and that it be provided at one of the central departments of the National Dental Service, a general hospital, or a college of dentistry. No payment is received for ordinary visits to a dentist, although women can receive reimbursement amounting to three-fourths of actual expenditure for ordinary dental care in connection with pregnancy.

The health insurance program provides basic free hospitalization in connection with sickness or maternity. Payment to the insured generally corresponds to the costs of care in a public ward, although the insured may assure himself better accommodations through payments of slightly augmented premiums. Patients desiring a semiprivate or private hospital room usually, however, pay the difference between the cost of the room and ward care; few avail themselves of the opportunity to pay higher premiums. In the case of travel to a doctor or dentist, compensation is paid only for sums in excess of SKr4. Should the insured require hospitalization, the entire cost of travel to the hospital is paid. Reimbursement for charges involving other care and

24

APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090021-3