Description: This article reviews studies find that the mortality gap has significantly reduced – though not eliminated – the overall progressivity of Social Security.

Description: The editors of Health Watch have made health care reform the focus of the Sepctember 2009 issue, and provide an introduction to the issue's contents.

Description: Discussion of the need to understand the implications of demographic and family diversity for the design of retirement programs. The design of retirement programs is a design of programs for the elderly, who are more often women, because women live longer and because their work histories often lead to reduced levels of pension and social security benefits.

Description: A view of Social Security disability experience for 1970 through 1978, and future projected trends based on observed application, approval, and recovery rates.

Description: This article makes organizations entering the MA market aware of the star rating climate, as well as short- and long-term star rating & revenue considerations.

Description: A defense of the CLASS Act from the perspective of the private long term care insurance industry.

Description: The American Academy of Actuaries is engaged in several projects that proactively examine the future status of the Medicare Program. This session presents the findings that have resulted from these efforts. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: Article from the Pension Section News, June 2000, on the simple logic of health care inflation. This article is reprinted with permission and ran in the April 2000 issue of Health Section News.

Description: A discussion of the future of the Social Security system, including a summary of the report from the Social Security Administration Advisory Council issued in January 1997. The document also sets forth some philosophical issues pertaining to Social Security purposes and its funding.

Description: This article is the second in a two part series that summarizes a longer paper that can be downloaded from the website of the Social Insurance and Public Finance Section. Both articles take the form of a point-counterpoint dialogue addressing important aspects of social insurance programs. The first part discussed their nature, desirability and advantages, as well as whether they can form a framework to achieve sustainable inter-generational equity. This article focuses on whether pre-funding of a social insurance program can occur and can contribute to the financial security of the participants. Fundamental differences of opinion exist regarding these programs, not only due to different personal and political values, but also as a result of the viewpoint taken (for example, assessment of the program in isolation, consideration of the sponsoring government's financial situation, or the overall national economy).