Description: Recognizing the benefit for actuarial discussions about how COVID-19 will affect our work, the Smaller Insurance Company Section of the Society of Actuaries hosted “COVID-19: What a Smaller Insurance Company Actuary Needs to Know Virtual Town Hall” on April 17, 2020. The following delves into these presentations and discussions.

Description: Two years ago, before COVID-19 changed everything about how we provide and receive health care, telehealth was largely provided by third-party vendors to treat a narrow range of acute one-and-done conditions. The value proposition was simple: a fast and easy member experience would drive satisfaction and engagement; high member satisfaction and engagement would drive health plan savings and member retention. Clearly, from the perspective of utilization, telehealth—as a viable alternative to in-person care during a pandemic—worked. And with COVID-19’s nudge—or was that a push?—toward cultural acceptance, the health care system is in a better position to capitalize on telehealth’s original promise of expanded access, lower cost and better outcomes than it was two years ago. But in the wake of the pandemic, it is just as clear to us that if telehealth is to live up to its full potential, some changes are needed. The rest of this article presents five ideas for improving the delivery of telehealth going forward.

Description: The author provides an update on the Academy of Actuaries' unsuccessful attempts to obtain a Federal Charter and the partially successful attempts to get state recognition by way of licensing or a charter.

Description: A summary of the report of the Canadian Royal Commission on Taxation. According to the author, the report conceives the tax structure to be a proper tool of government in far-reaching policies of income redistribution and management of the economy.

Description: A commentary on whether or not the Illustrations Regulation has been successful.

Description: This article discusses a new budget resolution introduced by the Canadian government providing for new methods of taxing life insurance companies.

Description: Update on the proceedings of the March 2010 NAIC meeting.

Description: Actuarial Guideline 38 has been one of the most discussed reserving changes in the past year. First proposed in late summer of 2004, several industry groups and LHATF have worked to reach consensus on this issue. The current draft is a compromise, sometimes referred to as the “CEO compromise” since the CEOs of several leading life insurers negotiated the language. From Small Talk Newsletter, November 2005, Issue No. 25.

Description: Article examines a proposed amendment to the MAP-21 Act that would have changed a number of tax requirements regarding so-called life settlements.

Description: The NAIC Innovation work group has set out 10 ideas for improving the LTC insurance market. This article discusses and critiques those ideas.