Description: This study was sponsored by the Society of Actuaries Health Section. This paper explores the relative significance of aging as a determinant of financial cost of health care beyond age 50, with particular attention to the effect for ages 65 and older. The paper presents concepts of aging factors and aging curves, which define relative values between ages for utilization or cost of health care services. General conclusions are drawn from Medicare data that utilization and cost differ by age, but that aging factors vary across services and may be less significant at very old ages. The author then turns to the question of measuring the significance of an aging curve assumption and what accuracy is lost in the simpler alternative of a single value across an age range.

Description: Essay stating accessibility, affordability and efficiency are the key to success in the future of healthcare.

Description: This article focuses on mandatory supplemental benefits offered by general enrollment plans and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) Medicare Advantage plans from 2017 to 2021.

Description: This paper discusses the quality of healthcare verses the price of healthcare and puruses individuals and doctors making decisions for their own healthcare costs and services.

Description: A glossary of terms.

Description: Essay reforming healthcare where participants have a vested interest in reaching the best answer.

Description: Risk adjustment is used to adjust the revenue stream to health insurers that sell ACA eligible plans and Medicare Advantage plans. This article compares and contrasts these risk adjustment programs.

Description: Research report sponsored by SOA to model and compare projected costs of different proposals for a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan. 3 types of costs are studied: net benefit cost estimates per member per month, continuance table data, and projected annual costs to the government over 10 years for two selected plan designs.

Description: Essay discussing cost, quality and access of healthcare and then describes the need for rationing.

Description: Panelists discuss emerging valuation-actuary-related issues, including: [1] for long-term-care insurance [LTCI], reserves, risk-based capital [RBC], and new experience forms, [2] for Medicare Part D, several potential future changes, and [3] for health insurance in general, the new Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 85 [SSAP 85] and existing SSAP 84, and current activities of the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB] regarding a definition of 'insurance.' Session 27PD of the 2005 Valuation Actuary Symposium.