Since 2021, the disability insurance (IV) has been recording the number of people affected by Long COVID who are claiming IV benefits. The Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) publishes an annual summary (in German) of the insured persons who received insurance benefits due to Long COVID in the respective year.
The IV numbers provide an indication of the long-term impact of Long COVID for those affected, the society, the healthcare system and general work performance. In this blog from July 2022, we take a closer look at what we can learn from these numbers.
The first calculations for 2023 were published on January 16. A total of 1303 people were admitted to IV in 2023. This is significantly fewer than in the previous year, when 1914 people were newly admitted.
The gender distribution is particularly striking: 66.5% of the 1303 insured persons in 2023 were female. This trend has become more pronounced; in 2022 and 2021, the proportion of female insured persons was 60.7% and 54.4% respectively.
A similar, albeit somewhat less pronounced, trend can be seen in the age distribution. In 2023, 69% of insured persons were aged 26-55, the age at which the highest work performance is expected. In 2022, 67% were aged 26-55, while in 2021, 60% of insured persons belonged to this age group.
Gender and age distribution of IV insured persons in 2023. (Source FSIO)
It is important to note that the number of insured persons does not correspond to the number of pensions awarded, but to the total number of people who received benefits of any kind. A person can also receive more than one benefit. The most common benefits are occupational reintegration measures; pensions are only awarded very rarely. The exact figures on which benefits were granted and how often are not yet published for 2023. In 2021 and 2022, the proportion of benefits for occupational reintegration was 83% and the proportion of IV pensions was 9%
Only new registrations are recorded in the monitoring. There is no information on how many people are currently receiving IV benefits due to Long COVID. This figure is probably higher, as people who were admitted in 2021 and 2022 may continue to receive benefits.
Interestingly, the increase in insured persons was still rather high, especially at the beginning of 2023, and then leveled down significantly throughout the year. While 155 people were admitted in January, only 52 were admitted in December.
The decline in IV figures in 2023 could be connected to the fact, that the probability of developing Long COVID is lower when infected with the newer corona variants (since Omicron) than with the first variants. In addition, the symptoms appear to differ, which could have an impact on the IV numbers.
People affected by Long COVID should register with the IV at an early stage.
As the period between application and approval can take several months, it is advisable for people with Long COVID-like symptoms who are restricted in their ability to work to register with the disability insurance early on. Even if a clear diagnosis has not yet been made.
Although the disease has been known for some time now, the diagnosis of Long COVID is still a challenge. Researchers around the world are trying to find characteristics that could make diagnosis easier in the future (see Zurich study on biomarkers).
In Switzerland, the EPOCA assessment is currently the most comprehensive tool for diagnosing Long COVID. However, due to the time-consuming nature of the assessment, it is not carried out as standard in practice. The Altea Care app aims to simplify the process for patients and doctors and thus make the tool easier to use.
In our guidebooks on legal issues, you will find helpful tips on dealing with disability insurance.
