Description: Actuaries have the business acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and technical skills to develop innovative and data-driven solutions in the social insurance space. It is time we expand our scope and embrace an increased role in making a positive impact within the health care ecosystem. The primary focus of this paper is on social insurance programs dedicated to the most vulnerable population: low-income families accessing care through Medicaid. While there are numerous challenges that require other subject matter experts to take the lead, this article highlights topics where actuaries can be key players in developing and implementing tangible solutions to improve the care for the most vulnerable. Issues and solutions in this paper focus on the following three areas: 1. Access to appropriate care, 2. continuity of care, and 3. social determinants of health.

Description: Compares the healthcare system of the US to the universal systems of selected other countries. Relies primarily on information compiled annually by The Commonwealth Fund. Will give the reader an understanding of the difference between universal healthcare, socialized medicine, and single-payer healthcare and how various national systems fall within these categories.

Description: This article describes Singapore's Central Provident Fund and how it involves government, employers and employees in a cooperative partnership for mandatory savings and investment to assist with the primary lifetime goals of home ownership, medical care and retirement provision.

Description: Feature article from the January 2010 issue of In The Public Interest discussing the reform of the U.S. health care system.

Description: Social Insurance & Public Finance Section council members provide a recap of sessions from the 2021 SOA Health Meeting, with a focus on sessions covering Medicare, Medicaid, the ACA, and public policy. The authors include a description of SIPF Section-sponsored sections, including a session on the ACA and a session on CMS's Direct Contracting Model.

Description: In April, 2009, the Chinese government launched the most comprehensive Health Care System Reform ever. The goal: to establish and improve the basic health care system covering most urban and rural residents, and to provide the people with safe, effective, convenient and affordable health care. There is no doubt that this 'Made in China' health care reform will become the world’s most extensive health care system reform because it will inevitably affect many players in the game such as the local governments who currently administrate the program, the medical professionals who provide the care, the pharmaceutical manufacturers who provide the medicines, and the very large population who participate in the program, etc. This article summarizes the highlights of China's health care reform program.

Description: Discussion of state medicaid expansion due to provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Description: Article describes several options for limiting increases in health care costs and urges actuarial profession to be more proactive in asdvocating for reform.

Description: As the topic of affordable long-term care (LTC) insurance comes into focus in political conversations, we often find ourselves thinking, “What is going to happen to the private LTC insurance industry going forward?” The need for LTC in the United States is not going away, especially as the population continues to age. With this in mind, this article explores three possible future paths for LTC insurance funding and the associated implications for the private LTC industry.

Description: Feature article from the January 2010 issue of In The Public Interest newsletter discussing reform of the U.S. health care system.