Description: In this paper the authors analyze data from group medical expense insurance claims and show that many insurance loss distributions have very 'heavy tails' because large losses represent a disproportionate fraction of the total cost. They also present a simple model to reproduce and explain the large loss behavior. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1990, VOL. 2

Description: This paper provides a method for estimating long-tailed unpaid losses from paid loss development using trended generalized bondy development. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: A mathematical framework for benefits and choices must be created, in order to model flexible benefit selection. This paper creates such a framework by defining benefit plans as reimbursement functions. These are then used with a defined choice function to calculate the cost deviation due to selection. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1992, VOL. 1.

Description: This paper develops a parametric model for health care insurance claims using currently available software to fit parametric models to the data. Model selection is based on the Chi-squared goodness-of-fit test and a comparison of the empirical limited expected value function to parametric limited expected value functions. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This paper provides an outline of the pricing methodology used by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia which incorporates trend analysis by trend component. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This paper develops a parametric model for health care insurance claims to fit parametric models to the data. Model selection is based on the ChJ-squared goodness-of-fit test and a comparison of the empirical limited expected value function to parametric limited expected value functions. A copula function was used to model the bivariate portion of the data. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This paper suggests that using the entire runoff triangle to keep a tail on the runoff curve was not necessary, and that doing so was actually a disadvantage if group medical and dental claim payment patterns changed over the period being used. An alternative was presented. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This Fellowship credit research paper describes the use of fuzzy sets applications to the selection of group health risks. In general, fuzzy set theory is implemented to describe collections of objects whose boundaries are not precisely defined, as in the judgment of what constitutes a good risk group. First, single-plan underwriting is considered, then the work is extended to multiple-option plans.

Description: This is an internal letter from an actuary to an associate regarding a claims study that established, in the mind of the writer, the adequacy and conclusiveness of a small sample size in certain situations. Actuarial Research Clearing House ARCH 1988, Vol. 3