Description: This paper and discussion is a review of the changes that have occurred recently in the basic principles that underlie the sale and distribution of individual life insurance including underwriting fairness, laws and regulations affecting discrimination, limitations in the underwriting process and competition. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: Discusses underwriting classification trends, term vs. permanent mortality experience with and without medical exams, mortality and lapse experience of military personnel, factors in addition to insurability which should be taken into account by underwriters - such as lapse risk. Also discussed are health underwriting and underwriting expenses.