Description: This article compares the Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) market to the commercial individual market exchanges included in the Affordable Care Act. PDP carrier actions to date could help predict certain aspects of the exchange market.

Description: The American Academy of Actuaries is engaged in several projects that proactively examine the future status of the Medicare Program. This session presents the findings that have resulted from these efforts. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: A proposal to reform current health care market, from a 'preferred payer' system, in which Medicare and Medicaid pay less than the true cost while others must then pay more, to a 'value for money' system. This would be achieved by requiring providers to bill all patients the same rate for the same services, with a standard bundling format to make all providers' rate differences transparent. Differences between billed charges and what Medicare pays would be made up by the Medicare patient, rather than subsidized by those outside of Medicare.

Description: Panelists discuss key aspects of recent and pending laws and the cost and design implications on group health plans. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: Updates on the efforts of the Academy’s health practice council. its work groups and task forces, to educate health care policymakers on issues including principles for reform, Medicare, the individual insurance market, and risk factors.

Description: This presentation from Session 61PD of the SOA 1996 Orlando Annual Meeting provides an update on changes to the Medicare health program over the last couple years. In addition, the panelists discuss the merits of additional proposed changes from the White House and both sides of the aisle in Congress. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 22, No. 3.

Description: Teaching session on the working Medicare contracts: background on the origin of Medicare risk contracts, feasibility of an HMO or competitive medical plan entering the Medicare risk market, and outline of the HCFA adjusted community rate filing process.

Description: At this presentation from Session 72D of the SOA 1996 Colorado Springs Meeting, the panelists debate legislative changes to the Medicare program. Included is an overview of the changes in the 1995 legislation, expected savings in the Federal budget, a debate as to the realism of these expected savings, reaction of enrollees, and a discussion of anticipated effects on the private sector of the healthcare system. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 22, No. 2.

Description: Research report sponsored by SOA to model and compare projected costs of different proposals for a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan. 3 types of costs are studied: net benefit cost estimates per member per month, continuance table data, and projected annual costs to the government over 10 years for two selected plan designs.