Description: New developments in long term care reinsurance.

Description: This article summarizes key findings from an SOA research report conducted by Milliman on a wide range of living benefit riders with medically related triggers on life and annuity products. The SOA report includes a survey of direct writers, and interviews with many reinsurers. The article focuses on chronic illness accelerated benefit riders, long term care accelerated benefit riders, and the more comprehensive long term care linked benefit products that can pay out benefits that may be much higher than the underlying base plan values. Information on regulations governing these plans, mechanics of the products, sales, and pricing structures is included The intent is to enable the reader to appreciate the issues and opportunities related to these new, innovative designs that help address a range of consumer needs..

Description: A discussion of how the tax law changes of 2003 might affect the attractiveness of variable annuity business relative to mutual funds and direct investments in dividend paying equities.

Description: This article was written to increase the knowledge and insights of both the direct writer and reinsurer in optimizing the reinsurance negotiation process. It should help the reinsurer offer a more competitive quote and hence win a share in a reinsurance pool while simultaneously helping the direct writer obtain lower reinsurance costs helping their product pricing and bottom line.

Description: This article was written to increase the knowledge and insights of both the direct writer and reinsurer in optimizing the reinsurance negotiation process. It should help the reinsurer offer a more competitive quote and hence win a share in a reinsurance pool while simultaneously helping the direct writer obtain lower reinsurance costs helping their product pricing and bottom line.

Description: Discussion of a direct writer survey and a reinsurer survey conducted in the fall of 2002 by the Society of Actuaries. The surveys asked a number of questions about underwriting criteria needed to qualify for preferred risk. They also asked questions about the percentage of issues in each underwriting category and the mortality assumptions for the different categories.

Description: This article presents the author's views on how direct writers of term insurance should view and monitor their reinsurance.

Description: The heart of a reinsurance arrangement is that a loss by the direct writer will be covered. The risk that coverage may be lost can be managed—practical steps can be taken to ensure that the ceding company and reinsurer remain in agreement about what business is and is not covered under the terms and conditions of the reinsurance agreement.

Description: An overview of Electronic Health Records and how they will enhance risk assessment and automated underwriting in the US.

Description: Feature article discussing combination products.