Description: February issue of The Stepping Stone

Description: The article is based on a range of industry insights, and provides readers with a broad overview of the emerging markets, industry trends, and challenges.

Description: This research report is sponsored by The Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries on the Canadian health care system. Performed by Stéphane Levert, FSA, FCIA, the study (available in French and English) estimated the future costs of the Canadian health care system, assessed the sustainability of the system over a 25-year horizon, and analyzed the implications of the changes to the Canada Health Transfer proposed on Dec. 19, 2011 by the federal government. The report summarizing the findings indicates that, without significant government intervention, the Canadian health care system in its current form is not sustainable.

Description: This article is aimed at developing young actuaries and how the current LTCI market offers much opportunity.

Description: The article discusses the sustainability of the ACA individual market from a public entitlement standpoint. A key point of measuring sustainability is the reliance on market forces rather than federal budget constraints. The article explains why an actuarial viewpoint of sustainability is necessary to a greater extent than other public assistance and social insurance programs. The article challenges actuaries to be a bold, objective voice in a space that is full of opinionated but often uninformed viewpoints.

Description: This article from major US payers describes palliative care as a scaleable means of improving quality and reducing costs during serious and complex illness.

Description: At the 2012 ILTCI Conference in Las Vegas, a group of Long-term Care Industry professionals decided we wanted to do something a little bit different. We wanted the audience of our session, "Underwriting and Claims: From the Outside Looking In", to hear from the people who matter most to the LTC industry………our constituents. And we wanted the audience to have the opportunity to discuss issues with these constituents in an open, upfront format.

Description: Research shows humans have a proclivity to provide the wrong answer when others have done so. This article provides 3 ways to bolster independent thinking.

Description: Panel discussion of varying views on: substandard underwriting with prudent pricing, qualified vs. nonqualified plans and the need for IRS clarifications, rate stabilization and aggressive pricing, noncancellable products and product features.