Description: This article contains excerpts from the first three articles that were released through the strategic initiative - Commercial Health Care: What’s Next?

Description: Feature article from the January 2010 issue of In The Public Interest newsletter discussing reform of the U.S. health care system.

Description: Letter by Concerned Actuary Group, printed in the January 2010 issue of In The Public Interest, in response to August 6 Review and Outlook Section editorial titled “Obamacare’s Real Price Tag.”

Description: This article discusses whether the health insurance is affordable given average income levels in the US.

Description: An Editorial regarding Health care reform and actuarial malpractice. The author cites three elements of health care reform as areas where caution is advised: solvency, risk adjustment, and pricing.

Description: This article discusses what actuaries see as ideal components of a health care reform package with an emphasis on cost control, efficiency, elimination of fraud and reduction of errors.

Description: Health care reform will require health insurers to change the way they make decisions on what to sell while remaining financially sound. The new regulatory reality of expanded access to coverage leaves insurers with fewer options for managing costs and business risk. With the introduction of risk adjustment mechanisms in the exchanges, the most profitable members will not necessarily be the lowest cost ones, but rather, the members which the health plan is relatively more effective at servicing. While Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 'PPACA' prohibits underwriting and using any health status information for denying coverage or varying the premium rates, this article describes how the use of consumer data will affect the way health insurers make decisions on what products to sell.

Description: Discusses effect of allowing companies to sell health insurance policy in any state, if approved in one state, without requiring approval in any other state.

Description: The medical scheme approach adopted by several African countries has failed to meet the needs of those in informal employment and rural communities. This is partly due to affordability amongst these individuals as well as a lack of awareness of how healthcare financing products work. Community based healthcare organisations have achieved greater levels of success in this regard by carefully incorporating the peculiarities of communities in benefit design and involving community members in the management of these healthcare solutions. There are lessons to be garnered from the countries where these have been implemented with some level of success. Even as countries aim towards universal health coverage, observing the unique needs of different communities within a country is essential to ensure resources are utilised efficiently and that healthcare needs are targeted effectively.

Description: Announcement of changes to the LTC Section, and a preview of the articles in the December 2009 issue of Long Term Care News, with topics including Health care reform and LTC vs. Medicaid.