Description: Pharmacy prices are top of mind for many consumers, policymakers, and payers. There are many proposals out there about ways to reduce pharmacy costs, almost all of which involve price controls. Is that the right move? What about the unintended consequences of such regulation? Will fewer life-saving drugs be developed including fewer drugs that improve the quality of life? Are better financing alternatives out there? Explore the concept of value-based reimbursement for pharmacy prices, including the lessons learned from applying value-based concepts to hospital and physician value-based financing.

Description: As long-term care enters into its fifth decade, the product continues to evolve. Current trends as well as innovative product designs pose many challenges as carriers seeks to model long-term care.

Description: With long-duration targeted improvements (LDTI) and interational finanial reporting standards (IFRS) 17, the insurance industry just underwent the adoption of two of the most significant accounting changes in recent history. While many companies have now successfully completed their implementation projects and have passed their first external audit reviews, they have had to do so under tight deadlines with limited resources.

Description: This session will provide an overview of key considerations and takeaways from the economic scenario generator (GOES) and fixed/indexed annuity reserving (VM-22) field tests. Stylized facts from the new proposed scenario generator will be discussed and a comparison with the existing Academy's scenario generator will be presented. The Main guidelines from VM-22 will be contrasted and compared with CARVM and VM-21, and preliminary model results will be analyzed to understand impacts on pricing, reserving, income volatility, and reinsurance.

Description: This session is an in-depth interview of two actuaries turned Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts. We aim to have a conversation that gleans into each of their journeys and what led them to the path they are now on. We will open up the last ten minutes for audience questions. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will know Eric and Joe much better, have an understanding of what AI/machine learning/data scientist work is like for actuaries, and, for those who are curious to get more involved with AI, some encouragement to pursue their interests.

Description: Who wants to be a Millionaire - Annuity + LTC edition! Through a series of increasingly challenging questions to our contestants, we will explore the depths of annuity + LTC products! Unlike annuity + LTC customers, in this gameshow there will be a winner and there will be a loser. Through the game show format, this session will explore emerging market trends and their drivers in annuity + LTC products, including long-run structural demographic and economic forces. The panelists will also review product design and assumption development considerations, contrasting annuity + LTC products with life + LTC products. We will challenge contestants on the compliance and regulatory issues in product development. Finally, we will provide a future outlook and areas for growth in this niche market. Attendees will understand the emerging product designs, risk profiles, and market potential for annuity + LTC products, and one attendee will win a million dollars*. (*monopoly money)

Description: 2023 was a year of continued change for the annuity market as interest rates stayed high. The rapid growth of RILA products stalled as FIA and MYGA products saw a significant increase in market share, with bonus products being extremely popular. The impact of ASOP 2 and the higher rate environment are continuing to be realized in experience, in-force management, product design and more. Learn more about the retail annuity market with a focus on the impacts of the current interest rate environment. Session materials will draw on experience studies, sales results, product changes, and more, which will examine how higher interest rates have altered the annuity market. At the conclusion of this session, you will understand recent trends in the annuity market, including emerging experience, new product designs, regulatory changes, and the impact of high interest rates.

Description: The SOA has been continuing to highlight the importance of societal purpose across the global actuarial profession, and as a way to attract and retain the next generation of amazing exam candidates and young members. This session will highlight the variety of activities that the SOA and actuaries of all ages are involved in to further drive the profession's societal purpose.

Description: Session 1D: Meeting the Mark - Predicting MA Stars Outcomes with Monte Carlo Simulations

Description: Session 2B: Pharmacy Risk Mitigation - Pricing, Programs, Pools, and Performance Guarantees