Description: This research report discusses simplified issue underwriting in life insurance. It examines recent developments, characteristics, challenges, current practices, assumptions and data elements.

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: 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: Breakout Sessions 1A: The Fundamentals of Pricing for Underwriters

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of a survey conducted by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys – Improving the New Business Process Survey Subcommittee. The survey examined the various changes U.S. and Canadian life insurance companies have recently made, or are considering making, to improve the new business process and to determine which changes were considered by the respondents to have had the most impact. Survey topics include the application process, changes to underwriting requirements, underwriting systems, underwriting resources, experience based on past changes, and policy delivery.

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: 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 discussion on underwriting looks at the evidence supporting rules requiring medical examinations, special heart reports as supplements to regular exams, home office urinalysis, electrocardiograms and chest X-rays, attending physician statements and inspection reports. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1955, Vol. 7, No. 19.

Description: This article summarizes presentations given at the 1998 Bowles Symposium concerning the use of genetic testing in underwriting life insurance and the medical, legal and ethical issues that arise.