Description: This presentation from Session 20PD of the SOA 1996 Orlando Annual Meeting examines the major trends in insurance laboratory testing from 1980 to 1985, with an emphasis on why blood testing thresholds were lowered dramatically in the mid-1980s and why those thresholds will persist into the next century. The value of liver function testing is examined as a case study in protective value. Issues addressed include: 1. What is the real impact of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-1 testing [sentinel effect]? 2. The unique pay-offs from liver function tests, 3. Clinical medicine mortality versus underwritten mortality: overcoming problems caused by different perspectives, and 4. Cotinine pays the freight? From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 22, No. 3.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 1997 Palm Desert Spring Meeting identify various issues that would affect a company's decision to enter the market for insurance for the terminally ill.

Description: Panelelists at this session at the SOA 1998 Maui I Spring Meeting present their thoughts on how life and disability risk assessment and underwriting might be performed in the 21st century. Focus is on how technology can change and speed up the process.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting presents an overview of risk classification, what principles define a sound system, changes in underwriting due to expert system technology, and determining the value of laboratory tests.

Description: This panel discussion is from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists review mortality experience studies and research and underwriting practices, discussing topics including smoker vs. non-smoker mortality, differences by sex, and medical impairments. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.

Description: This report presents the results of the Survey on Business Decision practices of reinsurers conducted by the Society of Actuaries Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys . A survey of direct writers of life insurance is reported separately.

Description: This session 36TS of the Toronto Spring Meeting discusses selected concepts that relate to risk appraisal in new business issuance and underwriting. Specific attention is focused on the relative values of underwriting tools, namely fluid collection: blood, urine, and oral fluid. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 2, Session 36TS

Description: This report presents the compilation of data received from life companies responding to a survey on preferred risk underwriting and provides opinions of the Task Force on Preferred Underwriting with respect to future trends.

Description: This session at the SOA 2004 Annual Meeting looks at current underwriting issues including the tools underwriters now use for appraising risk in various markets, the impact of preferred exceptions and business decisions from a pricing and claims perspective, and new ideas for assessing risk at older ages.

Description: This report presents the results of the Survey on the Business Decision practices of direct companies conducted by the Society of Actuaries Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys. A survey of reinsurers is reported separately.