Description: The purpose of this survey was to gather data on how a sampling of the life insurance industry makes decisions involving lab tests. This most significant conclusions were that protective value was the biggest driving force and the chief underwriter played the biggest role.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to provide a unified theory for the evaluation of underwriting requirements where this evaluation is based on the measurement of the levels of mortality costs associated with such requirements. A discussion of this paper is included.

Description: This is a report on Phase 2 of a research project on the role of automated systems in life insurance underwriting. This paper discusses: 1. How and why companies are using automation to make underwriting decisions. 2. Its impact upon operational efficiency, sales, and retention. 3. The quality of risk selection produced by automated systems. 4. Cultural acceptance of increased automation in underwriting. 5. Challenges insurers must overcome to implement and maintain automated underwriting.

Description: This is a panel discussion on individual life insurance underwriting principles and practices that occurred in 1976. It discussed a paper by Alton Morton entitled Individual Life Insurance Underwriting Principles and Practices: A 1976 Review.

Description: This is a guide to underwriting literature which covers a broad range of underwriting issues and the actuary's role in underwriting.

Description: Presents aviation mortality statistics, updated for complete 1961 data and estimated 1962, with historical data shown beginning in 1950.

Description: This 1978 SOA session presented some provisional findings of the new Build and Blood Pressure Study. Some of the findings: 1. The average weights of men in the new study exceed the corresponding weights in the previous 1959 study by 2 to 8 pounds in the thirties, and by up to 5 pounds in the fifties. 2. The mortality ratios of overweight men are not significantly different in the new study from those in the 1959 study. 3. Markedly overweight men experienced lower mortality in the current study than in the 1959 study. 4. Men weighing 20 percent below average recorded 10 to 15 percent higher mortality in the new study than in the 1959 study. 5. Mortality of overweight women is relatively lower than that of overweight men. 6. Mortality of men with elevated systolic and diastolic pressures was appreciably lower than in the 1959 study. 7. Mortality of women with moderately elevated systolic and diastolic pressures was not significantly different from that in the 1959 study. 8. The presence of minor impairments alongside of blood pressures in excess of 150/90 usually produced significant increases in mortality.

Description: This report, the second such report, presents the compilation of data received from life companies responding to a survey on preferred risk underwriting and provides opinions of the Task Force on Preferred Underwriting with respect to future trends.