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: From the 1960 Transactions Vol. 12 No. 32, this ‘Discussion of Subjects of Special Interest’ addresses the ordinary insurance underwriting topics of “guaranteed issue” and potential antiselection of business insurance vs. personal insurance at time of retirement.

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 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: This article is part of the Digest of Informal Discussion, which took place at the 1956 Society of Actuaries Eastern Spring Meeting, held April 19-20 in Hartford, CT. It identifies the participants and summarizes each person’s comments. The participants discuss various underwriting topics, including larger amounts of insurance and higher limits on premium waiver and accidental death benefits, larger non-medical limits, impairments, substandard underwriting classes, and aviation risks. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1956 Volume 8, Number 21.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting presents an overview of risk classification, what principles define a sound system, changes in underwriting due to expert system technology, and determining the value of laboratory tests.

Description: This panel discussion is from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists review mortality experience studies and research and underwriting practices, discussing topics including smoker vs. non-smoker mortality, differences by sex, and medical impairments. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.