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: Telehealth came to the forefront in a significant way during – 2020–2021, partially due to the pandemic. What is the reasonable expectation of future consumer use of telehealth? This virtual option has the ongoing potential to increase access to health care services to plausibly lower the cost of care. Furthermore, telehealth continues to evolve as a technology. Keeping current with advancements as well as consumer willingness to use this medium are important to the future of health insurance. By attending this session, you will learn about the latest advancements in telehealth as well as implications for cost of care due to consumer use.

Description: It’s well documented that oral health is correlated with overall health. An exciting array of new dental technologies is emerging, from virtual reality through AI to CRISPR. These ground-breaking advancements have the potential to revolutionize dentistry.

Description: Prior to the global pandemic, investment in new health technologies had already reached an all-time high. As the world begins to emerge from COVID-19, what new technologies will next take root in the health care system and how will those affect medical costs? This session will review recent research from the SOA Health Section on how new technologies are spread and adopted. Particular focus will be given to emerging modes of consumer engagement and highly-focused gene and cell therapies that are breaking new ground in combating rare diseases. (We plan on focusing on 2 technologies like Consumerism or Telehealth & Gene & Cell Therapy depending on availability of speakers or if there are other sessions in this virtual meeting covering the same topic)

Description: The purpose of this document is to inform the user of the 2022 Health Care Cost Model about the sources of data, other reports, and assumptions which were used to populate this report and drive some of the key considerations.

Description: The purpose of this document is to inform the user of the 2021 Health Care Cost Model about the sources of data, other reports, and assumptions which were used to populate this report and drive some of the key considerations.

Description: Risk Adjustment continues to be a hot topic in Health Insurance since its emergence. This mechanism came into being as a means of reducing the risk of selection, particularly in marketplaces where underwriting is not allowed, and rating factors are significantly restricted. Risk adjustment serves to adjust premiums to reflect the risk of individual members or overall members as a whole within a particular cohort of a health plan. Risk adjustment is not perfect, as it does not perfectly predict future costs or perfectly adjust for the differences in expected costs. Different marketplaces have different challenges with risk adjustment.

Description: Learn more about the reasons for provider consolidations and shortages as well as their impact on health care morbidity.

Description: This report illustrates employer group commercial health care costs and trends from 2013 – 2017.

Description: This study would assess the impact of recent patient care innovation(s) on health care and the health insurance industry.