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: This presentation is an open forum from the 1991 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 20-23 in Toronto. The panelists, including a member of the Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors, and a vice president of the largest insurance testing lab, Home Office Reference Lab, discuss new underwriting technologies, including genetic testing, alternative AIDS testing methods, and the legal and other implications. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 4A.

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 1978 discussion focused on risk classification and privacy, including the following questions: What are the implications of the Privacy Study Commission's recommendations? What legislative developments have occurred? What can be expected? From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 4, No. 3.

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: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. Discusses the latest developments in underwriting and their potential impact on mortality, and the most recent mortality statistics.

Description: Discusses: [1] using blood tests effectively to improve mortality results, [2] using expert underwriting systems, and [3] what the future may hold for genetic underwriting. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 4A.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. Results of the recently completed survey on preferred risk criteria for individual ordinary life insurance are presented, with a discussion of limitations of results and implications for pricing actuaries, underwriters and reinsurers.