Description: An analysis of US population mortality trends and the impact of COVID.

Description: S&P reissued a second Request for Comment (RFC) in May 2023 that proposed changes to their insurer capital adequacy methodology and assumptions, and suggested these proposed changes may become effective at the end of 2023. This paper is to highlight the notable changes between the current capital model criteria and the proposed model. We also discuss major changes from the first RFC and the second RFC, as well as several key items that still require enhanced guidance and clarification. Our analysis is based on information gathered from S&P's public comments, conversations with industry participants, and publications released by S&P Global as of July 2023 when this paper was written. Most U.S. life insurers are rated by S&P using their U.S. Life Statutory Capital model, while other insurers use the GAAP/IFRS Capital Model. Statutory financials will remain the starting point for U.S. life insurers under the proposed model, however there will be additional adjustments made to these numbers in an effort to create consistency and comparability with other accounting and solvency regimes.

Description: The article summarizes the results of the 2022 U.S. and Canadian Life Reinsurance Survey, for both Individual Life and Group Life business, conducted by the Reinsurance Section of the Society of Actuaries.

Description: Discuss changes in group life waiver of premium claim recovery and mortality experience since the 2005 table was released, the development of the 2023 table, and the new statutory valuation standard approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Description: Future mortality improvement has been a common assumption in life insurance and annuity pricing and forecasting for many years. However, experience over the last decade suggests this might be an assumption that merits reconsideration in the United States. This article will take a closer look at factors that impact mortality improvement trends and discuss why insurers may want to reevaluate product designs to better manage the associated mortality risk. We then introduce a product idea with this in mind, where premiums are based on a life expectancy index and insurers share the risk (and opportunity) or mortality improvement with policyholders.

Description: The most recent U.S. population data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the U.S. Census at year-end 2021 includes the first ten months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. While we know the pandemic has had significant impacts on both the U.S. population and insured population mortality, we also see increased mortality due to many other non-COVID causes of death. Where are the biggest changes and what does this non-COVID excess mortality mean over the next few years? Take part as an expert panel hosts an interactive discussion to examine data from general population as well as from both individual life and group life experience studies to explore how these changes might spur innovation in underwriting, assumption setting and pricing.

Description: It has been a little over a year since the release of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute's Mortality Improvement Model, MIM-2021. Since then, waves of COVID-19 have continued to occur in the U.S. The uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and the slowing of U.S. general population mortality improvement prior to the pandemic are just a few of the reasons that make developing MI projection scales difficult. Uncoverthe results from intercompany surveys on mortality improvement, including one that addresses COVID-19, discover insights from a mortality expert panel on COVID-19 and future mortality, and discuss enhancements to MIM-2021. By attending the session, you will: - Understand MIM-2021 and 2022 enhancements. - Understand SOA Research Institute activities around COVID-19 and impact on mortality improvement. - Apply research results and insights presented to daily work.

Description: The Group Life COVID-19 Mortality Survey gathers a high-level view of U.S. Group Term Life Insurance mortality results during the COVID-19 pandemic through June 2023, as compared to prior period baseline mortality results. This new report is an update to the survey report released in May 2023, which contained data through December 2022.

Description: Mortality is a fundamental element in the financial projections of the finances of social security programs around the world. Prominent actuaries from the U.S. Social Security Administration, Canada's Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the U.K. Government Actuary's Department will discuss some of the key factors and current issues associated with these projections. Improving mortality has and will have a significant effect on the affordability and importance of income through retirement to many population segments in these countries.

Description: A recap of the SOA Research Institute's participation in the NAIC Spring 2023 meeting