Description: A panel of experts discusses the effect of malpractice costs on health care delivery and health insurance, and potential solutions to reducing the costs of malpractice, including research on limiting human error and possible litigation reforms. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 3, Session 118

Description: The hot days of summer are upon us and, with it, the inevitable reference to the dog days of August. All over North America this year, summer began early with heat waves, heat alerts, smog alerts and hurricane and tornado warnings. Admittedly, this is not very encouraging news for our society which is concerned with preservation of life, quality of life and conservation of property. Accordingly, it is a challenge for our profession that prides itself on its ability to accurately calculate the financial impact of natural or catastrophic events on society at large. The Actuary Magazine August 2005

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of the survey on Life Settlements, prepared by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys Life Settlements Survey Subcommittee. The responses from two separate surveys, one to direct writers and the other to reinsurers, have been combined into this single report. Survey question topics include company characteristics, market participation, market management, and consequences to the Industry.

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of the survey on laboratory testing issues, prepared by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys Laboratory Tests Survey Subcommittee. The survey asks questions about companies’ internal practices in regards to how laboratory tests become part of the underwriting paradigm, in particular, how changes are made, who the decision-makers are, and what support is necessary to add a test.

Description: This paper documents recent medicare utilization experience from 1975-1977 extracted from a large statistical data file developed by the Department of Health and Human Services. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1982, Vol. 34.

Description: This is a discussion of the paper, 1954 Amendments to the Social Security Act by Robert J. Myers. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1955, Vol. 7, No. 19.

Description: 1992 SOA Regional Meeting, Chicago. This discussion is about direct marketing growth in the 1980s, sustaining the growth in the 1990s, regulatory constraints in the 1990s, impact of continuing production cost increases, new product designs, and declining response rate.

Description: This 1991 panel discussion is about the NAIC and HIAA models, as well as state regulations proposed or adopted to regulate small group underwriting and rate guidelines. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 17, No. 3A.

Description: This paper reviews the life cycle of a typical pension plan, examines the issues relating to its funding, and proposes a new funding approach that tries to balance the various concerns. From The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Monograph, M-RS05-1.

Description: Presented at May 2005 Spring Meeting. Panelists discuss the insuring of the aging population in respect to assessment of the health of the insured and resulting mortality costs.