Description: The 2008 Member and Candidate survey closely follows the 2002 and 2005 surveys, allowing comparison of results over this six-year span.

Description: The SOA’s target benefit plan research project began by exploring the risk and reward characteristics of the simplest design at the DC end of the spectrum. Under this design, there is no explicit risk sharing among members aside from mortality risk. The affordability of benefits is assessed at each valuation by reference to the funded ratio determined under the Traditional Unit Credit (TUC) cost method, and action is taken immediately (by adjusting the accrued benefits of both active and retired members in the same proportion) whenever this ratio differs from 100%. The first Issue Brief on target benefit plans referred to this design as a Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) plan. Modelling revealed a high probability of shortfall events over long horizons as well as considerable instability of benefits year to year, even with relatively conservative choices of asset mix and valuation assumptions.

Description: Download the papers from the "A Comparative Analysis of Methods of Health Risk Assessment" monograph.

Description: This SOA report’s purpose is to increase awareness of the importance of many reinsurance treaty terms/provisions, identify common treaty structures, practices, and/or solutions in reinsurance treaty construction and negotiation and illustrate how treaty terms have evolved over time. Lessons can be learned from ceding companies’ and reinsurers’ viewpoints and objectives on key treaty provisions and by considering obstacles, compromises, conflicts and solutions during and subsequent to the treaty construction and negotiation process. This report is based on questionnaire responses, telephone interviews, participant research assignments, follow-up email correspondence and an in-person roundtable discussion. This report documents participant’s points, counterpoints, counter-counterpoints and insights

Description: There is a clear consumer need for long-term care (LTC) coverage. Combo life/LTC products sought to meet that need when stand-alone LTC coverages became more difficult and more expensive to get. Combo life/LTC are built to be more sustainable, allowing for more alignment of interests between the policyholder and insurer. However, combo life/LTC are typically on a universa life (UL) chassis with extensive secondary guarantees, and several were withdrawn from the market in the recent past because of very low interest rates. A couple of carriers have used the variable UL chassis which are still in market. Interest rates have also risen dramatically. The opportunity may be present for innovation in this area that leads to sustainable products. Join the conversation as experts in this area discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in developing and marketing these products.

Description: The US healthcare system is among the world's most advanced, but is the highest-cost by far. At Swiss Re we studied the highest-cost US Medicare beneficiaries during 2016. The Medicare government program primarily covers seniors and individuals with disabilities. Total Medicare spending during 2016 was nearly USD 700,000,000,000. In our study, the 1% of beneficiaries with costs of USD 125,000 or higher generated 15% of total claim costs. Better understanding of these beneficiaries and their treatment could lead to improved quality and efficiency of care. Analysis of their claims can aid projections of the expected level and variance of costs. We calculated claim costs and rates, and identified higher-cost segments (including inpatient claims, individuals with disabilities or end-stage renal disease, Pacific states including California, and men). We look forward to expanding the analysis in future updates.

Description: Slides from a panel discussion session at the Spring meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-15, 2004 Discussion of the basics of actuarial appraisals: Panelists discussed the reasons to perform an actuarial appraisal, the processes involved, issues that should be addressed and assumption development.

Description: Many SOA members are familiar with the Actuaries' Climate Index, the result of an early and critical effort by North American actuarial organizations to grapple with the impact of climate change on our constituents. But did you know that the SOA continues to produce research on the nexus of environmental issues and the actuarial profession? And did you know that under its Strategic Research Program Initiative, the SOA has elevated its commitment to research through the development of a Climate and Catastrophe research program?

Description: Read the August 2017 issue of In The Public Interest published by the Social Insurance & Public Finance Section.