Description: This study was sponsored by the Society of Actuaries Health Section. This paper explores the relative significance of aging as a determinant of financial cost of health care beyond age 50, with particular attention to the effect for ages 65 and older. The paper presents concepts of aging factors and aging curves, which define relative values between ages for utilization or cost of health care services. General conclusions are drawn from Medicare data that utilization and cost differ by age, but that aging factors vary across services and may be less significant at very old ages. The author then turns to the question of measuring the significance of an aging curve assumption and what accuracy is lost in the simpler alternative of a single value across an age range.

Description: Conditions and required solvency standards of federal waiver to PSOs to provide Medicare+Choice products. Effect on providers, beneficiaries and employers. Issue No. 36

Description: This is an Excel spreadsheet, provided by the Society of Actuaries Pension Section, containing Social Security Earnings Base and Payroll Tax Rates, Social Security Wage Index and Maximum PIA, other Social Security program data, Medicare data, Railroad Retirement Earnings Base and Payroll Tax Rates, and the number of recipients and average monthly OASDI benefits.

Description: Issues relating to the1998 Balanced Budget Act BBA on Medicare Supplement Carriers. Discusses High-Deductible options, open enrollment provisions, pre-existing condition limitations, new provider payment methods and preventive benefits Issue No. 36.

Description: This section describes the basic methodology and assumptions used in the estimates for the HI trust fund under the intermediate assumptions. In addition, projections of HI and SMI costs under two alternative sets of assumptions are presented. From Pension Section news, September 2004, Issue No. 56.

Description: This article describes the basic methodology and assumptions used in the estimates for the SMI trust fund under the intermediate assumptions. From Pension Section News, September 2004, Issue No. 56.

Description: Essay stating accessibility, affordability and efficiency are the key to success in the future of healthcare.

Description: Summary of Report examining issues affecting the cost of Medicare supplement insurance policies high trend, high outpatient hospital costs, new prospective payment methods. Issue No. 39.

Description: Discussion of state medicaid expansion due to provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Description: This article reviews the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act and the impact the legislation has had on Medicare Supplement plans, policies and the changes to the model regulation. From Health Section Newsletter, March 2005, Issue No. 49.