Description: This article discusses the new Kassebaum-Kennedy bill a.k.a. HIPPA and looks at future of individual health insurance plans, which will be determined at the state level.

Description: The author takes exception to criticism from the AMA about hospital discharge guidelines as being set by actuaries when, in fact, they are set by physicians based on actual practice.

Description: This article explores the disruptive applications of blockchain, an emerging technology, and its impact on the pharmacy benefit space, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM).

Description: Can Direct-to-Provider Contracting Achieve Value-Based Care for Employer-Sponsored Plans? Direct-to-provider contracting is a strategy in which a self-insured entity negotiates a contract directly with a provider of healthcare services rather than through a third-party administrator (TPA), often with the goal of driving value-based care. This article discusses the considerations for employers and providers with direct-to-provider contracting.

Description: This web page contains links to the following articles of interest to actuaries: 1. A July 9, 2011 New York Times editorial about recent studies suggesting that antidepressants aren’t effective after all, and 2. A March 10, 2011 Time Magazine article by Joel Stein titled, 'Data Mining: How Companies Now Know Everything About You.'

Description: This article provides an overview of critical illness insurance: history, product description, and the three primary ways to offer critical illness coverage in the United States. This article also contains an illustration of an issue age premium rate calculation, as well as product features and rating applications specific to the various types of critical illness coverage.

Description: Joe Wurzburger, Staff Fellow at the SOA, shares his views and insights about the health care industry in general and the Health Section's role in particular.

Description: This article discusses fringe benefits for the retired from a 1967 meeting of the Canadian Pension Conference.

Description: This article discusses the growing number of cases of dementia and its effects on economics and loved ones.

Description: During the past few years, performance, cost, and risk trends for Medigap products have undergone substantial changes. Some of these trends could ease cost pressures on Medigap insurers, while others might increase them. Part 1 of this Issue Brief article discusses current changing trends and considerations around about how they are impacting Medigap.