Description: The Behavioral Finance subgroup of the Health Section will be publishing a series of literature reviews in Health Watch. This is the first review of three in the series. The reviewed article describes an attempt to place an econometric value on consumers’ preferences between broad and narrow networks.

Description: Synopsis of the report of the SOA Medical Effectiveness Task Force, which discusses the concept of health plan performance measurement and the contribution actuaries can make to this.

Description: Actuarial appraisal and role of the actuary with regards to Health Insurance Mergers and Acquisitions. Issue No. 40.

Description: Hospitals, through consolidation and affiliations, gaining back negotiation strenght lost due to managed care in the 80s and 90s. Charges vary significantly by area and facility. Issue No. 46.

Description: This article overviews the results of the 2008 survey of Third Party Administrators of Employer Stop Loss business.

Description: The American Academy of Actuaries task force charged with developing a risk-base capital formula for health insurers submitted its preliminary report to the NAIC Health Organizations Risk-Based Capital Working Group.

Description: The editorial shares observations and lessons learned from the process of implementing the Affordable Care Act.

Description: This paper will develop an aggregate claim reserve methodology for health claims. The theoretical nature of the unpaid claim process is outlined and discussed. This is then used to develop a paradigm shift, which views the claim reserve estimation as a projection of claims from one period to another, rather than as a matter of estimating residual unpaid claims from observed paid claims.

Description: Summary of common mistakes made by actuaries developing ACA rate filings. Outlines correct approach to ACA rate filing process. Suggests Peer Review process.