Description: This is a discussion of the medical loss ratio, the confusion and debate over the calculation method under the new MLR requirement, and the opportunities it presents to consulting actuaries.

Description: This essay, submitted for the Society of Actuaries' Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section 2010 Papers Competition, proposes an entrepreneurial solution to address the continued, unsustainable increases in health care costs. Under the author’s plan, entrepreneurs will “develop systems providing clear financial motivation for consumers to make decisions that minimize health care spending and maximize positive health outcomes. In so doing, health care providers must necessarily compete to offer the highest quality services at the lowest cost. By relying on the financial self-interest of consumers and free-market competition among health care providers, effective and sustainable systems to bend the health care cost curve can be achieved.”

Description: The author reviews the impact of health care exchanges becoming operational in 2014, and he offers ideas for efficient risk identification and ways to measure the results.

Description: The author discusses group short-term disability or STD programs, including the advantages and disadvantages of self insured vs. insured plans, as well as hybrid approaches.

Description: Profiles of the Council Members by SOA from Smaller Consulting Firm Section, January 2003, Issue No. 1.

Description: This column highlights the visible activities of the EAS section: educational opportunities, networking, and essay contest.

Description: In addition to urging members to get involved and mentioning the upcoming section elections, the chairperson of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section discusses a proposal that would benefit both the big company and the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section 'EAS' members: the author suggests that each large insurance company should designate an actuary as the chief entrepreneurial actuary responsible for acting as a portal for entrepreneurial ideas of an actuarial nature.

Description: In this article, the author, an independent consulting actuary, discusses the process of becoming independent, providing advice on what you need to consider in making the transition from company employee to independent consultant.

Description: In this article, the section chair of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section, ‘EAS,’ addresses the growth of the life actuarial profession. The author notes the significant growth in size of the profession in terms of membership, but cautions that calling us a growing profession on this basis only addresses the supply of actuaries, not the demand. The article then discusses current efforts to address the question of demand, noting that the EAS is in early discussions with other sections and the SOA staff to develop some measure of future demand for actuaries.

Description: This is the full version.