Description: U.S. population death statistics and trends often occupy COVID-19 briefings and daily headlines. There are also publicly available mortality data sources for actuaries and others to perform their own analysis. Yet industry studies examining the impact of COVID-19 on insured populations are in their infancy. In this webcast, presenters will provide insights into how the life insured population is faring during COVID-19 by discussing the findings from two recent SOA research initiatives. LIMRA, RGA Reinsurance, the Society of Actuaries and TAI have collaborated on an effort to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the individual life insurance industry’s mortality experience. Additionally, the SOA has surveyed insurers to gather a high-level view of U.S. Group Term Life Insurance mortality results during the COVID-19 pandemic and comparing them to pre-pandemic mortality levels.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) has partnered with LIMRA and the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI) to conduct a series of ‘sprint’ surveys on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its potential impacts on the U.S. life insurance industry. This report contains a summary of the results of the second survey on best practices in monitoring and modeling the potential impact of COVID-19 mortality on life insurance industry claims.

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic infection has greatly affected the economy, resulting in volatile market conditions. Because market conditions greatly impact the value of insurance company’s assets and liabilities, the fourth survey in this series focused on best practices around asset and liability management (ALM). The survey was directed at actuaries, investment managers and risk managers directly involved in assessing the impact of recent events on ALM. Responses to the survey were collected between April 22-28, 2020. Thirty-two companies responded to the survey.

Description: The goal of the third survey in this series is to collect and disseminate information on best practices around sales and the issuance of new business. The survey was directed at staff directly involved in assessing the impact of recent events on new business processes.

Description: View the COVID-19 Low Interest Rate Environment Cash Flow Testing Survey Summary of Results April 23, 2020

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) has partnered with LIMRA and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) to conduct a series of ‘sprint’ surveys on the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impacts on the insurance industry. Because market conditions greatly impact the value of insurance companies’ assets and liabilities, one of these “sprint” surveys focused on best practices around asset and liability management (ALM). The survey was directed at actuaries, investment managers, and risk managers directly involved in assessing the impact of recent events on ALM. Responses to the survey were collected between August 17-31, 2020. Twenty-six companies responded to the survey.

Description: This report is a summary based on current actuarial practices around the development and use of policyholder behavior assumptions including the use of dynamic modeling approaches. The research team surveyed and evaluated current practices in the industry; and highlighted current thinking on modeling human behaviors outside the life insurance industry. This project was sponsored by the SOA’s Financial Reporting Section and the Committee on Life Insurance Research.

Description: Future mortality improvement is an important assumption in the valuation of life insurance and annuities. In this session, presenters will discuss the work of the Mortality Improvement subgroup of the American Academy of Actuaries’ Life Experience Committee and the Society of Actuaries’ Preferred Mortality Oversight Group Valuation Basic Table Team in developing mortality improvement scales for AG-38 and VM-20. In addition, two recent SOA efforts on mortality improvement will be examined. Research on developing a broader framework for modeling mortality improvement assumptions is being developed to enable U.S. actuaries additional ways to follow a consistent approach across a variety of actuarial practice applications. Results from a study on U.S. population mortality by socioeconomic category and how it fits into the broader consistent framework will be presented. Additionally, results of a survey on mortality improvement practices of life insurance companies and reinsurers in Canada and the U.S. will be shared.

Description: This report is a summary based on current actuarial practices around the development and use of policyholder behavior assumptions including the use of dynamic modeling approaches. The research team surveyed and evaluated current practices in the industry; and highlighted current thinking on modeling human behaviors outside the life insurance industry. This project was sponsored by the SOA’s Financial Reporting Section and the Committee on Life Insurance Research.

Description: Over the past few years, the SOA Research Institute’s Mortality and Longevity Strategic Research Program has initiated studies to provide insights into the overall historical U.S. population mortality trends. During this webcast, presenters will discuss how causes of death are influencing the trends. Various perspectives will be considered including, age, period, cohort effects and cause of death mortality by socioeconomic decile/quintile. Additionally, obesity and the impact on mortality and morbidity costs in the U.S. and Canada will be examined.