Financial Decision-Making Theory and the Small Employer Health Insurance Market in Texas (2006) - Bonnie Albritton
This article, written by Bonnie Albritton, FSA, has been published in the October 2006 issue of "Actuarial Practice Forum". Small employers face a difficult challenge in finding insurance for their employees. In Texas there are several options available to small employers to obtain health insurance for their employees. The options include the state-regulated small group market, Private Purchasing Co-ops, Health Group Cooperatives, and MEWAs, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Although this paper focuses on the options available in Texas, many of these options are available in other states and the basic concepts are applicable in many situations.
This paper looks at each of the options from a "Financial Decision-Making Theory" perspective. The participants in the small employer group health insurance market are: insurers or carriers, employers, employees or insureds, and agents.
A Better Random Number Generator (2006) - Chris Davis
This article, written by Chris Davis, FSA, has been published in "Small Talk" (June 2006 newsletter of the SOA Smaller Insurance Company Section). The article discusses the choice of a Random Number Generator in stochastic testing and the advantages of the Mersenne Twister.
Does It Seem to You that Valuation Mortality Tables Don't Last as Long Anymore? (2005) - Roger Annin
This article, written by Roger Annin, FSA, has been published in "Small Talk" (November 2005 newsletter of the SOA Smaller Insurance Company Section). The article discusses current valuation issues involving principle based reserves and the development of Preferred Risk Valuation Mortality Tables.
Review of “The Life Settlements Market – An Actuarial Perspective on Consumer Economic Value” (2005) - Roger Annin
This article, written by Roger Annin, FSA, reviews a recent study on Life Settlements which was published by Deloitte and the University of Connecticut. The article has been printed in "Street Talk", a quarterly newsletter published by Maple Life Financial Inc.
The Medicare Modernization Act and Group Health Plans (2004) - Steve Bryson
Steve Bryson, FSA, discusses the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or Medicare Modernization Act for short which was signed into law on December 8, 2003. The article provides background on the Act and focuses on aspects especially important to the sponsors of health plans that cover former employees during their retirement years. Steve provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions at the end of this article.
Smaller Insurance Companies and Long-Term Care Insurance (2003) - Tony Proulx
This article written by Tony Proulx, FSA, has been published in both the Long-Term Care News (April 2004 newsletter of the Society of Actuaries Long-Term Care Insurance Section) and Small Talk (November 2003 newsletter of the SOA Smaller Insurance Company Section).
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