Description: This database and analysis, from the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Group Health,’ was prepared by the SOA Medical Large Claims Experience Committee, SOA Committee on Health Benefit Systems Research and the SOA Health Section. The database is a follow-up to the 1991–92 Group Medical Large Claims Database. The study explores and analyzes factors affecting incidence rates and the distribution of claim sizes. The database contains claims from three years: 1997, 1998 and 1999. While the 1991–1992 database focused only “large claims” i.e., claimants with annual paid charges of at least $25,000, the 1997–1999 database contains all claimants, regardless of charge amount. Data from seven insurers are represented. For the three years combined, the database contains 4,294,030 claimants and total paid charges of approximately $7.1 billion. In addition to the report there is 2 page database documentation and four zipped data files.

Description: This report presents the results of the most recent study of individual life insurance lapse experience [calendar years 2004-2005]in the United States conducted jointly by LIMRA International and the Society of Actuaries.

Description: This report, from the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Individual Annuities,’ and prepared by the Payout Annuity Mortality Study Working Group of the Individual Annuity Experience Committee of the SOA, is an experience study of individual payout annuities, covering calendar years 2000 through 2004. The intent of this study is to provide recent annuitant mortality experience which can be compared to the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table, and provide a basis for a possible revision to that table. The study includes immediate annuities, annuitizations, and life settlement options of life insurance and annuity death claims. The report includes two Excel workbooks.

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of the survey conducted by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys - Preferred Underwriting Survey Subcommittee. This survey asked for preferred risk underwriting practices as of July 2002. This is the third such survey completed by the Society of Actuaries. The intent of this survey was to gather information on the many variations in preferred risk underwriting.

Description: This is an editorial about the actuarial profession. From The Actuary Magazine August 2007

Description: In October 2006, the SOA Board of Governors approved proposed changes to the existing Constitution and bylaws that will streamline these documents into one governing document. Voting fellows will be asked for their endorsement of these changes in conjunction with the annual election for officers and directors beginning Aug. 9, 2007. From The Actuary Magazine August 2007

Description: The Society of Actuaries' health leadership met earlier this year for an all-day meeting in Chicago. A significant portion of that meeting was spent discussing current challenges facing the U.S. health care system and how the SOA can best serve its members by addressing top priority issues. The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2005

Description: Phil Bieluch's probing editorial in The Actuary's Dec. 2004 issue asked, Are we comfortable with the assumptions underlying our calculation of pension liabilities on employer's balance sheets? Even if this isn't our responsibility? From The Actuary, April/May 2005

Description: Discusses the influences that foreign economies have on the U.S. economy and the risks that those influences create for the U.S. life insurance industry.

Description: First of all, I probably watch too many awards shows -- the kind where the winners have a long list of people to thank for their success -- one of whom always turns out to be their muse. A muse seems to be a very popular thing to have, but all it does for me is cause visions of Zeus' daughters in long, white, flowing robes to flitter through my mind and I begin to wonder why they are giving the award to the winner and not to the muse. Well, just like the bandito Gold Hat in the 1948 film version of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" didn't need no stinkin? badge to pursue his dream, I don't need a muse to pursue mine and neither should you.