Sympany closes 2011 with profit
Basel, 9 May 2012 – Sympany increased its profit to CHF 16.3 million for the 2011 financial year, compared to CHF 1.2 million in 2010. This was largely attributable to the underwriting result: while Sympany increased premiums earned by CHF 19.8 million in 2011, it paid out fewer insurance benefits than expected at CHF 1.3 million. The effect of generally moderate inflation on benefit costs and internal cost control were contributing factors.
Own cost-cutting measures take effect
The sharp reduction in Sympany's own administration costs was an additional factor contributing to the improved profit: Sympany reduced operating expense by CHF 18.5 million in 2011 through the rigorous implementation of the measures taken in 2010 and strict cost management. Sympany is continuing to optimise its structure and processes with the aim of reducing its own costs.
Sympany's non-technical financial result made a contribution of CHF 4.9 million in the 2011 financial year (previous year: CHF 22.2 million), with the main reason for the decline compared to the previous year being the deterioration in the development of investments: investment income suffered from the turmoil and uncertainty prevailing in the investment markets.
Reliable premium policy
Sympany increased premiums across Switzerland by an average of only 1.6% with effect from 1 January 2012 and used the profit generated in the 2011 financial year primarily to bolster its own reserves. This allows the company to project a continuation in its reliable and moderate premium policy and thereby pass the profit on to its customers in the form of a stable premium policy.
The number of corporate customers increased slightly from 11,500 to 12,200, while Sympany had to contend with a fall in its private customer portfolio from 244,000 to 227,000 in the year under review, with customers with basic health insurance cover falling from 214,000 to 189,000. Sympany attributes this to the premium adjustments of the previous year and to its due adherence to the agreement made within the sector with regard to customer advertising, in basic health insurance in particular. The company will continue to adhere to this agreement. To avoid a further reduction in insureds, Sympany has taken measures to intensify its focus on its customers.
This is also demonstrated by its new management structure that has been in effect since the beginning of 2012: the three market functions Benefits, Products/Marketing and Sales have since been represented directly on the Executive Board alongside Finances and HR/Corporate Functions. CEO Dr Ruedi Bodenmann: "We are consistently placing our customers at the centre of our focus: be this in terms of our reliable premium policy, our product design and the quality of our benefit reimbursements or our budgetary discipline with regard to our own costs. We pass on these savings directly to our customers."
Ruedi Bodenmann in conclusion: "Sympany has a solid financial base, is well positioned and looks positively to the future, for which we have to thank all of our employees at all levels. I would like to take this opportunity to extend to them my heartfelt thanks for their dedication and commitment."
Dr Siegfried Walser, Chairman of the Foundation Board: "I would like to thank the Executive Board and all Sympany employees for their high degree of commitment, which despite challenging conditions has contributed to making Sympany a reliable partner."