Voluntary reduction of reserves
Simply fair
As a fair health insurer, Sympany believes in the importance of offering affordable premiums. As a result, Sympany is taking advantage of a voluntary reduction of reserves. This enables us to give unnecessary reserves back to our basic insurance customers. You receive a monthly compensation amount which is indicated on the premium invoice and is deducted from the premium. A planned reduction of reserves must be approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Questions and answers about the reduction of reserves
In basic insurance, the reserves are used to cover above-average benefit costs. The reserves therefore offer security for all parties involved: for premium payers, for doctors, for hospitals and treatment facilities. The minimum level of reserves is prescribed by law.
The high quality of the Swiss healthcare system is based on reliability and stability. Health insurers make a significant contribution to this. Thanks to their reserves, they can pay for medical treatment correctly and on time without exception – especially in the case of unforeseeable events such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Yes. Sympany is reducing its reserves in 2023. We have calculated lower premiums for this reason. In addition to this, Vivao Sympany AG and Moove Sympany AG policyholders have been receiving a compensation amount every month since the start of 2023, which is deducted from their premium invoices.
The legally required minimum amount of reserves must be adhered to. Sympany reassesses the situation every year and decides, taking into account the reserve reduction plan, whether it can submit a request to the FOPH to reduce its reserves. No further reductions of reserves are planned from 2024.
Yes, Sympany has sufficient reserves to cushion unforeseeable developments and to avoid yo-yo effects in premium development. This means that policyholders can rely on Sympany at all times.
Yes, whenever possible, Sympany will continue to repay surpluses that affect supplementary hospital insurance plans. In 2022, premium income and benefit payments balanced each other out. Therefore, in 2023, it is not possible for surpluses to be refunded. However, the following remains applicable: surpluses belong to policyholders and are paid back to them at a later date – specifically when there are sufficient funds for this in the surplus fund.
All policyholders with basic insurance benefit from the voluntary reduction of reserves. The reduction of reserves therefore has a direct dampening effect on premium development. By contrast, only policyholders in those cantons (basic insurance) or with those insurance products (supplementary insurance) in which the healthcare costs were significantly lower than the premiums paid in the previous year receive surpluses.
Sympany no longer plans to repay surpluses in basic insurance. Instead, in 2023, policyholders will benefit from a reduction of reserves.
