Description: This article presents a view of health care as an economic system, suggests a framework for classifying current criticisms of the system, and offers references for further reading.

Description: A review of the latest of a series of reports from Statistics Canada, covering data from various Canadian social benefits programs for 1971-1977.

Description: This article discusses key excerpts from testimony in June and July 1981 by James R.Swenson, Chairman of the Academy’s Committee on Social Insurance, to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and to the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security. The testimony recommended that the long term problems of Social Security be addressed at the same time as the short term imbalances, that benefits be adjusted to affordable levels e.g. gradual increase in retirement age, that more attention be paid to pessimistic actuarial projections, that the actuaries be given more latitude in selecting assumptions, and that the law be amended to require actuarial certifications for Social Security.

Description: Mr. Myers tells about his recently ended position as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for Programs and also his new position as Executive Director of the bi-partisan National Commission on Social Security Reform under President Reagan.

Description: Feature article describing the benefits of the state of Wisconsin's variable benefit plan.

Description: Panel covers a variety of current issues in the Medicare supplement marketplace, including the impact of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Issues affecting both managed care and traditional Medicare supplement are discussed. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 3.

Description: The Advisory Council to Social Security will soon be replaced by a board to manage a new independent system. This article discusses recent recommendations made by the Council and the role actuaries have played on it.

Description: In this article, the author suggests that Social Security funds could earn better returns if some of the assets were invested in index funds weighted by the market capitalization. Index funds retain the risk and reward of the diversified market as a whole and eliminate the greater risk/reward of investing in a single issue or market segment. They offer a simple way to focus on asset mix where so much of the risk can be managed.

Description: Is the New CPI Different? Implications for Pension Plans by Todd Rutley from Pension Section News, June 1999, Issue No. 40.

Description: Excerpts from the PBGC Actuarial Valuation Report - 1998 Fiscal Year—Correction of Table from June 1999 Issue from Pension Section News, October 1999, Issue No. 41.