Description: In the absence of good research and analysis, decisions are made on the basis of intuition, unexamined assumption, and fixed ideas. This is the 'I believe…' approach to decision-making. The less information that individuals have, the more likely they are to rely on belief rather than evidence. This keynote address from the 43rd Actuarial Research Conference held in 2008 in Regina, Saskatchewan discusses the importance of research in health care reform, talks about the difference between pure and applied research, and explains what separates good applied research from poor research. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 2009, Vol. 1.

Description: "...We may need to expand our models from their purely actuarial aspects and to include nonactuarial aspects. Indeed for many of the problems and the difficulties with our system of tort law, the providing of health care to people of all ages, inflation protection, retirement benefits and, particularly pressing right now, the problem of AIDS - ...the nonactuarial elements may, in fact, be the most pressing."

Description: This session discussion is about tools, techniques, and methods used by the health valuation actuary HVA in dealing with business projections, cash-flow analysis, valuation on nonguaranteed premium business, target surplus analysis, reinsurance and claim reserves. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 1A.

Description: Summary of the Insurance Market Behavior and Health Insurance Seminar Held in Beijing. The purpose of the seminar was to introduce the special characteristics of health insurance markets and health insurance to actuaries and insurance executives in countries where health insurance products are in their formative stages.

Description: Article from The Actuary, September 1994 – Volume 28, No. 7 provides an interview with actuary Bob Shapiro.

Description: Editorial by Steve By Steve Konnath I'm honored to be the new chairman of the Marketing and Distribution MaD Section Council. I have a tough job living up to the expectations set by our outgoing chair, Juliet Sandrowicz. From News Direct, January 2008, Issue No. 57.

Description: Summary of a September 1967 conference aimed at exploring the potential of private health insurance to provide more comprehensive coverage to a larger proportion of the population.

Description: This is an article about claims and the growing impact they have on insurance companies financially.

Description: Table of contents for The Actuary Magazine - December 2004

Description: Highlights of the Marketing and Distribution Section's survey, conducted during early fall of 2007. Survey questions could be categorized into five areas. There was a group of questions that captured the demographics of who answered the survey and their overall awareness of our section and involvement with our section. From News Direct, January 2007, Issue No. 57.