Description: Actuaries have the business acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and technical skills to develop innovative and data-driven solutions in the social insurance space. It is time we expand our scope and embrace an increased role in making a positive impact within the health care ecosystem. The primary focus of this paper is on social insurance programs dedicated to the most vulnerable population: low-income families accessing care through Medicaid. While there are numerous challenges that require other subject matter experts to take the lead, this article highlights topics where actuaries can be key players in developing and implementing tangible solutions to improve the care for the most vulnerable. Issues and solutions in this paper focus on the following three areas: 1. Access to appropriate care, 2. continuity of care, and 3. social determinants of health.

Description: The article is a memorial to the life, work and accomplishments of the influential actuary Jeremy Gold. It describes his career and education in finance and how he used his background to fight for better risk management of pension plans especially those sponsored by state and local governments. It describes his research and important published papers, along with his involvement in the effort to educate the actuarial profession about financial economics. Some personal anecdotes are also included.