Description: Read the October 2019 issue of Health Watch, published by the Health Section. Practical information for actuaries, articles impact sections, section activities. This is the first digital-only issue of the newsletter.

Description: This article provides an overview of behavioral economic theory as it relates to health and welfare insurance plans and provides summaries of two sample applications of the theories: enrollment in health insurance exchanges created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and product design considerations in light of vast health illiteracy.

Description: Telehealth benefits, obstacles, and delivery systems

Description: Leader Interview With Greger J. Vigen

Description: Recap of the Brazil Insurance Markets in 2008.

Description: Letters to the editor about the feature article “The Dementia Epidemic: Are We Ready?” that ran in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of The Actuary.

Description: The article offers a discussion about future products, distribution, insurance laws, and contracts. Some ideas might not be possible today, but it is offered as food for thought.

Description: As part of the SOA’s July 22, 2020, COVID-19 Virtual Symposium, Marketing and Distribution (MaD) Section Council members presented “Selling Insurance Six Feet Apart” with insight into emerging sales and marketing processes, challenges, and opportunities for the product spaces noted

Description: Learn about key actuarial and analytic tools and methodologies used by commercial health insurance to identify and quantify drivers of healthcare cost and utilization (including wasteful and low-value ones) and risks. Use case scenarios in which these tools and methodologies apply, such as underwriting, reinsurance, medical management for population health and chronic diseases, managed care contracting, insurance market reform, provider payment reform, etc., will also be covered. Experience from the U.S., China and other parts of the world will be shared.

Description: A divisive confrontation over health care pricing is almost inevitable over the next few years. What will ultimately happen is a political decision, not an actuarial one—but it will have major consequences for the trend in health care costs and the divergence between public and private insurance premiums.