Description: In this paper, we introduce a family of leptokurtic symmetric distributions represented by the difference of two gamma variates. Properties of this family are discussed. The Laplace, sums of Laplace and normal distributions all arise as special cases of this family. We propose a two-step method for fitting data to this family. We develop a statistical test for goodness-of-fit and introduce a test of normality of the data. A simulation study is provided to illustrate the theory.

Description: Decentralized insurance alternatives is a rapidly expanding sector of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), an emerging and growing financial ecosystem powered by blockchain technologies. The purpose of this report is to review and discuss the business models and operating designs of decentralized insurance alternatives, which may have significant implications for traditional insurance businesses, as well as the actuarial profession.

Description: This second session in the series examines responses to the changing workplace landscape from outside the insurance industry. Using a question-and-answer approach with our panelists, this session focuses on practical approaches to identifying new opportunities, and ways in which traditional products and sales channels are changing to meet emerging needs. Compared with other vertical financial services, the life insurance industry has a very low level of 'touch' with its customers. Communication with customers is often limited to the annual mailing of premium invoices. Wellness platforms offer life insurers a means to increase customer engagement, building stronger brand affinity and improving persistency. Life insurers can also leverage customer data collected through the wellness platform to streamline the underwriting process for cross-sales, increasing volume and efficiency.

Description: Healthcare cost is increasing at 9.3% in Asia in 2017 and health insurance cost will eventually catch up, making healthcare unaffordable to aging populations. Inefficiency in healthcare system is a contributing factor. In this session, use cases on how AI is impacting the health insurance operations on 3 core challenges. Document processing: A lot of documents are generated in the healthcare ecosystem, medical reports, diagnosis, invoices etc. Currently most of the documents are still reviewed manually and rely heavily on users’ judgement. Customer engagement: Customers are generally under distress and feel rejected during the claim process. It is due to the time and process needed to get the information they look for, the gap between the sales and claims process, and the reimbursement amount. Claim settlements: Claim adjudication is a technical process that review the disease, treatment and policy coverage. The process is specific to disease and difficult to be generalized. Thus, the process is far from consistent and invites fraud, abuse and wastage in this area.

Description: Cognitive tests used in the long-term care insurance industry differ in cognitive domains tested, time required for testing, ease of test administration, sensitivity and specificity. Recently, new approaches to scoring or testing have improved test utility for screening for cognitive impairment.

Description: Feature article discussing preferred methods of communication.

Description: This article introduces SymPy, a computer algebra system (CAS) for the Python programming language.

Description: Underwriting is one of several areas in the insurance industry being impacted by insurtech. In this session, we will hear from experienced experts in underwriting transformation. Digitization, machine learning and other approaches are among topics to be discussed.

Description: The purpose of this paper was to describe some of the actuarial aspects of one company's electronic system and to discuss the underlying analyses and comparison of alternatives that led to the selection of particular electronic procedures to solve certain actuarial problems. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: This discussion is about how are computers being used for Underwriting of individual policies mortality and morbidity studies, including the derivation of exposures, analysis of claims, etc. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1964, Vol. 16 Pt. 2