It is well known that Canada has a public healthcare system. Part of the overall management activities of this program is periodic review of costs and the responsibility of the federal government to negotiate with the provinces an amount for future funding of the various health programs for the next renewal period. The current funding period will expire in 2014. A credible, objective model to estimate future growth is needed.

The objective of this research would be to contract with a Canadian researcher or a joint U.S./Canadian team to investigate underlying factors which are critical to Canadian Healthcare and would be useful to the upcoming renewal. Some of the items of interest include:

1. A brief comparison of Canadian and U.S Healthcare systems. An introductory comparison of health care funding and freedom of choosing providers in the U.S. and Canada.
2. Determining sources for Canadian healthcare data.
3. General healthcare cost trends in Canada.
4. Historical utilization and projected utilization on a macro-economic basis.
5. How much of provincial and federal budgets will projected costs consume, assuming the current tax base is maintained.
6. How much the Federal Health Transfer will cover (if the current formula is maintained).
7. What human resources will be needed from the total workforce (if current productivity levels and/or progression are maintained for the various health care providers).
8. To what health conditions and/or practitioners will most of the future resources be directed.
9. Projected amount of funding needed to adequately cover costs for the next negotiated period.

Aggregate cost data at a macro-economic level would be needed. Sources for data may include the Canadian Institute of Health Data Base, Statistics Canada, or other reliable sources. The researcher(s) would need to be familiar with the possible sources of health care information.

An approximate budget of $20,000 (U.S.) has been established for the project. The researcher(s) is to examine one or more of the above issues and summarize the results in a report made available to SOA membership.

Benefits to the selected researcher, the SOA and CIA would include:

• Useful information for members related to U.S and Canadian Healthcare
• Key research on a public policy issue
• Enhanced image of the actuary
• Actuarial voice in important public policy issues (in this case, National Canadian Healthcare)
• Potential for significant promotion and media attention

It is expected that the researcher(s) will work closely with a Project Oversight Group (POG) in meeting the objectives of the project. The researcher(s) will also provide the POG with periodic progress reports. Members of this group will be available to provide feedback and guidance to the researcher(s) as needed.

To facilitate the evaluation of proposals, the following information should also be submitted:

1. Identification of the issues the researcher(s) will address in the study.
2. Resumes of the researcher(s), including any graduate student(s) expected to participate, indicating how their background, education, and experience bear on their qualifications to undertake the research. If more than one researcher is involved, a single individual should be designated as the lead researcher and primary contact. The person submitting the proposal must be authorized to speak on behalf of all the researchers as well as for the firm or institution on whose behalf the proposal is submitted.

3. An outline of the approach to be used, emphasizing issues that require special consideration. Details should be given regarding the techniques to be used, collateral material to be consulted, and possible limitations of the analysis, specifically what the Researcher(s) will do with inconclusive or otherwise incomplete survey results.

4. Cost estimates for the research. We expect to reach agreement on a fixed cost for this project with the Researcher(s).

While cost will be a factor in the evaluation of the proposal, it will not necessarily be the decisive factor.

5. A schedule for completion of the research, identifying key dates or time frames for research completion and report submissions.
6. Ideas regarding the form and distribution of the final report, both for immediate release and for permanent reference (e.g., submission to the North American Actuarial Journal or other SOA publication).
7. Other related factors that give evidence of a proposer's capabilities to perform in a superior fashion should be detailed.

The SOA's sponsoring committees are responsible for the selection of the proposal to be funded. Input from other knowledgeable individuals also may be sought, but the sponsoring committees will make the final decision. The SOA's Research Actuary will provide staff actuarial support.

Any questions regarding this RFP should be directed by fax, or e-mail to: Ronora Stryker, SOA Research Actuary (Fax: 847-273-8514; e-mail: rstryker@soa.org).

If you intend to submit a proposal, please send written notification by November 23, 2011 to:

Jan Schuh
SOA Sr. Research Administrator
f: 847.273.8556
email: jschuh@soa.org

Please e-mail a copy of the proposal to:

Jan Schuh at jschuh@soa.org

Proposals must be received no later than December 2, 2011. It is anticipated that all researchers who have submitted proposals will be informed of the status of their proposal no later than December 9, 2011.

Note: Proposals are considered confidential and proprietary.

The Society of Actuaries reserves the right to not award a contract for this research. Reasons for not awarding a contract could include, but are not limited to, a lack of acceptable proposals or a finding that insufficient funds are available to proceed. The Society of Actuaries also reserves the right to redirect the project as is deemed advisable.

The Society of Actuaries intends to copyright and publish the results of this research. The research will be considered work-for-hire and all rights thereto belong to the Society of Actuaries. However, appropriate credit will be given to the Researcher(s).