Description: The Health Section chair recaps some of the section’s activities and future projects.

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: A summary recap of the recent SOA Health Conference held in Dallas, TX in June of 2025. With the intentional use of AI to assist with the summary, this article gives a good overview of the recent conference with personal commentary from one of the attendees.

Description: Article discusses causes of high charges in relations to reimbursement arrangements and possible actions of insurers & payers. Issue No. 45.

Description: A high level summary of the basics of Medicare Part D settlements - what they are, and the impact they have on plan sponsors' final financial results. Intended for an audience with limited familiarity with Medicare Part D.

Description: Can Direct-to-Provider Contracting Achieve Value-Based Care for Employer-Sponsored Plans? Direct-to-provider contracting is a strategy in which a self-insured entity negotiates a contract directly with a provider of healthcare services rather than through a third-party administrator (TPA), often with the goal of driving value-based care. This article discusses the considerations for employers and providers with direct-to-provider contracting.

Description: This article explores the disruptive applications of blockchain, an emerging technology, and its impact on the pharmacy benefit space, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM).