Description: The insurance reserve for an individual contract can be pictured as a quantity which changes continuously from moment to moment in response to the forces of interest and mortality. A different mathematical model arises for each method of defining the death benefit, and in this paper a number of such mathematical models are analyzed. Followed by discussion papers submitted by several authors

Description: This is the discussion of the paper by J. Alan Lauer that develops the apportionate basis for the immediate payment of claims as an alternative to continuous functions. A new function, the apportionable annuity due, is defined and derived and formulas for net premiums and terminal reserves on the apportionable basis are developed. Then an investigation is made of the relationship of net premiums and terminal reserves on the apportionable basis to the corresponding functions on the continuous functions basis.