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: Conditions and required solvency standards of federal waiver to PSOs to provide Medicare+Choice products. Effect on providers, beneficiaries and employers. Issue No. 36

Description: The panel offers a recap of the most recent initiatives being proposed for reform of the Medicare program. Items addressed include areas of actuarial concern, potential impacts on the insurance industry and responses initiated by the actuarial profession. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1, Session 48

Description: This presentation from Session 61PD of the SOA 1996 Orlando Annual Meeting provides an update on changes to the Medicare health program over the last couple years. In addition, the panelists discuss the merits of additional proposed changes from the White House and both sides of the aisle in Congress. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 22, No. 3.

Description: This session disscusses thel outlook of the Medicare program, current and longer-term reform proposals, and Medicare prescription drug proposals. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 2, Session 66

Description: Two Medicare risk funding provisions that were radically changed by the BBA of 1997 funding variations by geographic area and risk adjustment. Issue No. 36

Description: This article is about the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This Act revises the Medicare landscape by the creation of Part C - Medicare+Choice, Medical Savings Accounts, payment reforms.

Description: This presentation included discussions on AAA Medicare Reform Task Force, the 2000 Medicare Technical Advisory Panel's review of HCFA's Medicare projections, and prescription drug coverage. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 1, Session 7

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: An overview of the Medicare Supplement landscape and the critical factors for successfully pricing and managing this product line amidst the challenges that exist.