Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. Discusses the latest developments in underwriting and their potential impact on mortality, and the most recent mortality statistics.

Description: This 1978 SOA session presented some provisional findings of the new Build and Blood Pressure Study. Some of the findings: 1. The average weights of men in the new study exceed the corresponding weights in the previous 1959 study by 2 to 8 pounds in the thirties, and by up to 5 pounds in the fifties. 2. The mortality ratios of overweight men are not significantly different in the new study from those in the 1959 study. 3. Markedly overweight men experienced lower mortality in the current study than in the 1959 study. 4. Men weighing 20 percent below average recorded 10 to 15 percent higher mortality in the new study than in the 1959 study. 5. Mortality of overweight women is relatively lower than that of overweight men. 6. Mortality of men with elevated systolic and diastolic pressures was appreciably lower than in the 1959 study. 7. Mortality of women with moderately elevated systolic and diastolic pressures was not significantly different from that in the 1959 study. 8. The presence of minor impairments alongside of blood pressures in excess of 150/90 usually produced significant increases in mortality.

Description: Shows how to use personal information such as medical history, family characteristics, etc. in a logical statistical fashion for the purpose of modifying an existing mortality table to reflect the collected underwriting information.

Description: This article discusses whether or not the Preferred risk class wears off over time.

Description: This paper studies mortality differences between right and left-handed professional baseball players by examining the times of, and ages of, death of more than 6,000 players who died before 1990.

Description: There are certain occasions when the knowledge we have gained in our jobs carries over into our personal lives. For instance, developing insurance products certainly helps when it comes time to buy an insurance policy. Recently, one of the authors had the experience of giving his 91-year-old grandmother, Nanny as she is affectionately called, an Extended Delayed Word Recall DWR test. This article will show that DWR tests are a powerful predictor of mortality in the elderly. As the population ages and more and more life insurance is being applied for at the older ages, having a DWR test in an underwriting arsenal is like comfort food for an actuary.

Description: Presents the 1968 data for aviation deaths.

Description: Covers aviation mortality primarily from 1985 and 1986 data obtained from US and Canadian governmental sources, including both civilian and military. Historical data is shown from 1975 for Canada and 1977 for the US.

Description: Covers aviation mortality obtained from the United States and Canadian governmental sources, both civilian and military. Recent data is from 1983 - 1984, but historical data is provided from 1975 forward.

Description: Presents aviation mortality statistics for 1964, with estimated rates for 1965. Historical data is also provided from 1953 onward.