Description: Discusses the influence of actuaries in particular state policy issues.

Description: This editorial notes that a letter, appearing in this issue of The Actuary,’ may not be alone in maintaining that the vagaries of our regulatory system handicap companies to the point that United States policyholders get poorer value for their premium dollar than do those in other countries.’ The article goes on to discuss guaranteed surrender values, the state regulatory system in the U.S and other topics in addressing this question.

Description: This article describes how Long-Term Care riders attached to Life Insurance policies provide real insurance value at a reasonable cost and allow life insurance companies to compete on a basis other than cost.

Description: This article describes the pre-HIPAA small group market and identify some of the key changes to this market resulting from HIPAA particularly guaranteed issue and renewal and restriction of pre-existing conditions and.

Description: This article is about the design and growth of the new variable life and annuity products.

Description: This article notes that 1975, marks the hundredth anniversary of the appointment of the first federal Superintendent of Insurance in Canada, and provides a brief history of insurance regulation, highlighting the contributions and leadership of actuaries, and the recognition of the actuarial profession.

Description: This article is a detailed review and discussion of “The Report on Actuarial Principles and Practical Problems with Regard to Non-forfeiture Requirements, Society of Actuaries, January, 1976.” The author of the article notes that It is an important report which should be read by all members of the Society irrespective of their professional affiliations, and in its present form the report is primarily an exposure draft and the Committee will therefore, welcome comments as to its content and recommendations prior to the discussion of the report scheduled for the Houston and Chicago SOA meetings.

Description: The author reviews and provides analysis of a report prepared by Douglas H. Carruthers, Q.C., as special legal counsel, to review the relationship between insurers and the public and in particular, the role of insurance intermediaries in the province of Ontario. The report was completed in 1975 and made public in 1976, and effectively recommends a new regulatory framework. The author of this article analyses and critiques the various proposals in the report.

Description: This article discusses that “the investment returns earned by life insurance companies over the past decade have permitted the sale of contracts guaranteeing relatively high rates of interest. The contracts have given rise to problems in the areas of the federal securities laws, of federal income taxes, and of state valuation requirements,” as insurers, starting in the 1960’s began issuing annuity contracts that provided for the allocation of contributions to separate accounts.

Description: The author, a Director of the National Insurance Consumer Organization, ‘NICO,’- a new non-profit organization, notes that ‘a consideration in forming NICO is the lack of adequate insurance expertise within the consumer movement.’ The article describes the public comments the organization has made on various life and health insurance issues.