Description: Managed Care Risk-Based Capital new formula for HMOs and BCBS plans, modification of disability income, LTC and stop loss factors, market uses of RBC, company use of RBC Issue No. 37.

Description: This article provides an overview of the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) model act, and of enterprise risk management (ERM). Compared to other actuarial disciplines, health actuaries have not historically focused as much on ERM. But health coverages do have risks that can threaten an insurer's solvency, and ORSA (now in force in most states) will force health insurers to beef up their ERM capabilities.

Description: Prescribers, payers, and patients must put a higher priority on the comparative cost-effectiveness of competing pharmaceutical products if society is ever going to achieve rational and affordable drug use for all. From Prescription Drugs Monograph, M-HB04-1.

Description: A review of the classic business book Built to Last, originally published in 1994. Looking at the past twenty years -- how have the BTL companies done? How have their comparison companies fared? Read the review and find out!

Description: Many top-performing businesses aren’t just risk aware, but rather risk intelligent. Such a posture helps prepare companies for a major event and can demonstrate to a regulator or auditor that an appropriately strong control framework is in place. Better still, companies gain real strategic value from a “risk adjusted” understanding not only of their threats and vulnerabilities, but also the upside opportunities associated with various risks. It starts with having both qualitative and quantitative information to identify, assess and manage risks. Strategic risk management, at its core, is about creating value by increasing transparency and accountability, and quality of information. More than a mere compliance exercise, effective risk management enables more informed strategic decision making, increased accountability and transparency, a greater likelihood of organizational success, and – ultimately – competitive advantage, as borne out by many studies that correlate risk management and financial results.

Description: The article is based on a study of causes of insolvency and decisions made by management, regulators, and policyholders over the life cycle of the insolvency.

Description: A continuation of the discussion on modeling mortality in life insurance applicants first discussed in the January 2012 edition of the Small Talk newsletter.

Description: A wrap-up of the 2012 LIMRA, LOMA and the Society of Actuaries jointly-sponsored the DI & LTC Insurers’ Forum at Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas.

Description: The author suggests aptitude testing is time well spent if you are trying to choose between possible paths, or would like to be able to find the path that best fits you.