Description: The SOA is pleased to make available a research report providing insight and considerations for the actuarial profession in assessing the potential risk and opportunities of MACRA to both provider and payer organizations.

Description: This paper fits a logistic model to the actual data of cumulative cases from the 2003 SARS outbreak. The model proves a good fit for the four areas examined: China [mainland], Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. Explanatory variables are then incorporated to link the model parameters to economic and demographic indices of areas hit heavily by SARS. The work enables prediction of the future behavior of SARS or other epidemics should they ever strike again.

Description: This paper highlights the menace of overweight and obesity which are on the rise. Health care systems and insurance industries are directly affected. Liability claims are on waiting. The food related damage claims are costly. Insurers are therefore driven to find a solution: classify overweight and obesity as a group, adjust their premium to reflect the cost, and justify the classification and the adjustments.

Description: The CSTEP 'Cluster Sampling for Tail Estimation of Probability' system is a desktop-based application to assist actuaries in efficient stochastic modeling through the implementation of Representative Scenario approaches. Its goal is to provide actuaries with an open-source HPC 'High Performance Computation' research platform to select a sample set of representative 'pivot' risk scenarios through user-specified or user-researched distance definitions.

Description: This presentation provided an analysis of investment guarantees in equity-linked products. There was an overview of the data and models in use. In addition an actuarial approach to left-tail analysis was presented as well as a dynamic hedging approach. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, 2012, Vol. 1.

Description: This paper discusses stochastic treatments for insured Long Term Disability [LTD] benefits under a group insurance policy.

Description: The problem of finding the distribution of sums of lognormally distributed random variables is discussed. References going back to the 1930’s are given, as well as some possible solutions. A formula for the characteristic function of one lognormal is stated, and then the moments and distribution of the logarithm of sums of lognormals are considered.

Description: Rosas' presentation from the 40th Actuarial Research Conference focusing on demographics in Mexico. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, 2006.

Description: Highlights of the results of a Milliman survey of the 2004-2009 historical pattern of sales of annuity products with guaranteed living benefits

Description: The Society of Actuaries and Financial Finesse have created a series of briefs focused on retirement literacy issues.