Description: This article describes the functions of the National Center for Health Statistics which serves as the focal points for U.S. health statistics. The NCHS data collection program goes beyond the important vital statistics. The Center produces data on the extent of illness and disability in the population.

Description: Outlines a generic business model for a life insurance company and concludes with thoughts on future trends and prospects.

Description: There are growing concerns that the Asian bird flu virus will evolve into a form that can be transmitted from human to human, thus unleashing a new global flu pandemic. This article uses the Spanish flu epidemic and the German life insurance portfolio to analyze the additional claims expenditure due to a pandemic.

Description: Since 1942, Metropolitan Life has been producing tables that show the weights at which mortality is lowest. Their purpose is to promote sound concepts of weight control. This article discusses Metropolitan's 1983 height and weight tables.

Description: This article reviews the results of the first SOA study of large medical claims, defined as claims greater than $25,000.

Description: This article discusses the problems in estimating the prevalence of HIV infection.

Description: This article contains a listing of the publications of the National Center for Health Statistics. Copies of any of the listed publications can be obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics, Rockville, Maryland. In ordering, the series number and the number within the series should be given.

Description: This is a table from an article in The Actuary Magazine entitled A Strategic Analysis of the U.S. Life Insurance Industry Part II: Products.

Description: This editorial gives an overview of articles in this edition of The Actuary including actuarial exams and health care management issues.

Description: This a book review of 'Synthetic State Estimates of Disability Derived from the National Health Survey' by the National Center for Health Statistics. This paper arose in response to the increasing demand for health statistics on the state level.