Description: The editor of Health Watch previews the articles in this issue.

Description: There is no silver bullet to improving retirement income outcomes for retirees. However, a combination of changes can be of significant value in addressing this overlooked issue. Although QLACs on the surface have potential value, they are not nearly as efficient as they could be. So far, employer plans have provided limited options for retirement income solutions. IRAs may not cost effectively serve the best interest of retirees. Employer plans should be encouraged to become retirement income providers and alternative approaches should be considered. The current prohibition on allowing plans to modify benefit payouts based on mortality experience should be reconsidered to allow for innovative plan income designs. Improvements to the deaccumulation stage of the retiree nest egg are challenging yet necessary.

Description: Develop a better understanding of specialty drug trends and their increasing healthcare costs for more than the past decade by attending this webcast. With the introduction of price competition, you will see changes in the market for biosimilar products and patent-protected drugs. For example, the drug Humira will be gaining 10 biosimilar competitors in 2023. Alone, Humira can represent over 20% of total pharmacy spend for health plans. Join us and discover how price competition is a turning point for the pharmaceutical industry and will define its direction for the next decade.

Description: Stakeholders in a specific state (Minnesota) were interviewed about the potential value -- and obstacles -- of a catastrophic backstop program to handle long term care (LTC) financing needs. The design would entail a payroll deduction which would produce a fund to pay LTC expenses once a deductible period (of 1 to 4 years, depending on income) was reached. This design was believed to encourage enrollees to cover the front end better than done today, whether by private insurance or other means.

Description: Join us for the Pandemics & Paradigm Shifts: ERM in an Intensely Dynamic World panel discussion, where industry and regulatory perspectives will help provide insight into a number of topics. Expect interactive dialogue opportunities based on the conversation between the panelists and the audience. Key topics that will be conversed about, but the panel is not limited to, include a brief review of historical paradigm shifts and subsequent insurer failures, best practices and an outlook on the ultra-dynamic world of today and consideration of a company's enterprise risk management framework as it affects ratings and insurance department examinations.

Description: With there being over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, some states are considering or have expanded Medicaid-like coverage to this population. Healthier Oregon launched in July 2022 to provide such benefits, and now covers more than 20,000 Oregonians. Hear about the structure of the program, along with its capitation rate build (which integrates federal participation for emergency and pregnancy-related services), risk corridor design, and related policy and implementation considerations. After attending this session, you will gain an understanding of the actuarial, regulatory and practical considerations for covering this population through managed care.

Description: Explore the findings from the research paper recently released by Milliman and the SOA, highlighting the growing need for support of informal/family caregivers. We will discuss both quantitative and qualitative data that illustrates not only the cost and burgeoning need, but the mental/emotional stressors that come along with this work.

Description: Update from the life insurance industry trade's perspective on tax policy and political issues

Description: This is Part 2 of 2 on changes affecting Medigap insurers. It focuses on marketing and regulatory differences between Medigap and Medicare Advantage that affect the competitiveness of Medigap plans.

Description: Investigate the concept of value annuities and the potential cost-effective differences when compared to traditional annuities by attending this webcast. Value annuities are an alternative lifetime income solution where longevity and investment risks are born by a pool of annuitants rather than a centralized insurer. Join this webcast for a closer look at the practicalities of designing and administering a value pool. There will also be a focus on the legislative, regulator and supervisory implications.