Description: This article discusses the concept of Conservation of Mortality ("Conservation"). Conservation is the modeling principle that ensures consistency between assumptions of the total mortality of a population and mortality among population subsets. This article discusses the use cases for Conservation and the many ways that one could implement it in a model or an experience study. This article also discusses the potential issues that arise when using Conservation, and how one might solve or alleviate these issues.

Description: Discussion of a direct writer survey and a reinsurer survey conducted in the fall of 2002 by the Society of Actuaries. The surveys asked a number of questions about underwriting criteria needed to qualify for preferred risk. They also asked questions about the percentage of issues in each underwriting category and the mortality assumptions for the different categories.

Description: A discussion of the Society of Actuaries study of Mortality Under Standard Individually Underwritten Life Insurance Between 1995 and 1996 Policy Anniversaries.”

Description: This article provides actuaries with general information about the Oregon Death with Dignity Act and experience for pricing of life and other insurance products.

Description: The Mortality Studies Working Group MSWG of the Society of Actuaries was created to review the issue of the frequency of the standard ordinary individual life insurance mortality experience studies and the published reports of those studies. This report discusses these issues and makes recommendations.

Description: A review/highlights of the report on US population mortality improvements for the 4 years up to 2001

Description: This article discusses a recently completed RGA in-depth study that looked at assumptions and experience for lapses and mortality at the end of the level premium period for level term business.

Description: A discussion of the development, key elements, applications, and implementation process of the 2001 CSO Tables for individual life insurance policies for computing minimum reserves, nonforfeiture benefits and tax reserves.

Description: A follow-up to the article “Comfort Food for an Actuary: Cognitive Testing in Underwriting the Elderly,” published in the May 2006 edition of Product Matters! This article presents the updated results, based upon three more years of data, of the Delayed Word Recall DWR Test mortality study. mortality study.

Description: The National Center For Health Statistics recently came out with preliminary 2006 U.S. population mortality statistics—showing lower mortality and a record life expectancy!