Description: This article addresses the growing need for critical illness insurance in the U.S. and the opportunities for insurance companies in this market. The article discusses product design both as stand-alone health insurance and accelerated benefits on life insurance policies, managing the risk through contract wording, and underwriting.

Description: In an effort to build a bridge between epidemiological and actuarial modeling, this paper analyzes possible financial arrangements made against expenses resulted from medical treatments given to insured patients. Based on classical compartment models, the first part of this paper designs insurance policies for susceptible participants facing the risk of infection and formulates the financial obligations of both parties using actuarial methodology. For practical purposes, the second part employs a variety of numerical methods for calculating premiums and reserves. The last part illustrates the methods by designing insurance products for the Great Plague in Eyam and the SARS Epidemic in Hong Kong.

Description: Critical illness CI products are gaining in popularity in North America. These products have been available for close to 20 years in many countries around the world, including South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom and most of Asia. Many of the lessons learned in these countries concerning product design, pricing, underwriting and claims adjudication are relevant to the U.S. market. This session reviews the latest trends around the world. Attendees gain insight into the key issues driving the profitability of the product and are better positioned to determine the main considerations in deciding whether or not to introduce such a product in their market. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 1, Washington, D.C., Spring Meeting, May 29–30, 2003, Session 60PD.

Description: Panel explores new disability products offered by writers of individual disability insurance and the ways in which these products connect with other types of insurance. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 25, No. 2.

Description: Panelists discuss pricing issues regarding supplemental products, which for this purpose, are defined as cancer, specified disease, student accident, and other special risk accident and health coverages. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 25, No. 2.

Description: Panel discussion addresses recent developments in group long-term disability product design. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 25, No. 2.