Art and Science: illustration of skyline with literal and abstract versions
Articles October 2012
Opinion: Substitute One Mis-impression - Thoughts on Critical Thinking in Actuarial Science
The long-standing motto of the Society of Actuaries, from John Ruskin, is ¡°The work of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions.¡± We have always had the IMPRESSSION that it means our job, as actuarial scientists, is to pursue fac... Read More
Asia banking; individuals lined up at an ATM
Articles October 2012
Asia¡¯s banks and insurers seek innovation in partnerships
Bancassurance¡¯s attractiveness in Asia continues to strengthen, as insurance consumers from all demographic and income cohorts increasingly turn to banks for their life protection needs. Read More
View of a data center with rows of equipment
Articles September 2012
Predictive Modeling: Is It a Game Changer?

Over the past few years, the concept of predictive modeling (PM) has entered the lexicon of many life insurance underwriting departments. This article discusses some of the issues to resolve in assessing the usefulness and the business case for im...

Read More
Opioid tablets and pill cases
Articles September 2012
Prescription Opioid Use

Prescription opioid abuse is increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. as is the incidence of fatal overdose. In this article we will define the scope of the problem, provide a rational approach to underwriting and explore the resources available to ...

Read More
Articles September 2012
Aspirin, Not Morphine: Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Movements and Long-Term Care Capitalization

Interest rate movements (or lack thereof) can present problems for insurers that underwrite and sell long-term care insurance (LTCI), but only under particular circumstances.

Read More
Predictive Modeling: double exposure image of man and skyline at sunrise
Articles June 2012
What is Predictive Modeling?
In January 2012 the Society of Actuaries published Report of the Society of Actuaries Predictive Modeling Sub Committee, which looked into predictive modeling in life insurance. Read More
Articles May 2012
Current Perspectives on Long-Term Care Underwriting
One of the main challenges today for reinsurers and direct writers is mapping their accepted long-term care insurance applications into optimally appropriate underwriting risk classes. Underwriting manuals provide not just procedures and assumptions, but also an instruc... Read More
Research and White Papers May 2012
Rx Mortality Study
Prescription histories have long served as valuable evidence for assessing the mortality risk of insurance applicants. The introduction of electronic prescription histories now enables this information to be accessed in a more structured, verifiable, and cost-effec... Read More
Research and White Papers April 2012
NASCAR Safety Improvements Save Lives

NASCAR drivers have historically presented a high mortality risk, but recent data suggests that NASCAR mortality has improved over the last decade. This article examines the relationship between major safety changes implemented by NASCAR within the last 10 ...

Read More
Research and White Papers April 2012
An Analysis of Motor Vehicle Records and All-Cause Mortality
This paper analyzes the all-cause mortality experience of a large cohort of applicants linked to the number and severity of their recent driving infractions. The study verifies that significant excess mortality risk exists for applicants with a recent history of either ... Read More
Articles February 2012
Severity-Based Critical Illness
In the Asia Pacific market, the Severity-Based Critical Illness insurance product is fast emerging as a strong offering, benefiting both consumers who want flexible protection and insurers wanting to mitigate claims risk. Mr Jerome Matrundola of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµAPP International Corp e... Read More
Research and White Papers January 2012
The MIB Extended Application Activity (EAA) Alert and the Risk of Early Lapsation
Applicants who routinely replace policies and agents who churn their book of business for commission purposes can prove to be quite expensive for an insurance company falling victim to this fraud. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµAPP recently completed a study with MIB G... Read More
Articles January 2012
Looking Ahead at Annuities
The UK¡¯s fast-growing underwritten annuity market shows few signs of slowing, but local and global economic and regulatory changes could lead to substantial alterations in how providers price, underwrite, and distribute this product line. Jason Hurley outlines how insur... Read More
Articles December 2011
The future for underwritten annuities
The UK¡¯s fast-growing underwritten annuity market shows few signs of slowing, but local and global economic and regulatory changes could lead to substantial alterations in how providers price, underwrite, and distribute this product line. Jason Hurley outlines how insur... Read More
Articles December 2011
Voluntary Benefits - A Work in Progress
Both insurers and brokers must learn from the past in order to boost future sales of group voluntary benefits. Read More
Articles November 2011
Capital-Motivated Reinsurance
A key lesson from the financial crisis is that insurers, by adding capital-motivated reinsurance, obtain broader access to capital. Read More
Articles November 2011
Tackling Health Insurance Fraud

This article explores how health insurers are combating growing fraud, and whether more actions are needed.

Read More
Image of a connected globe
Articles November 2011
Reinsurance Capacity on the Rise
Undeterred by the financial turmoil and attracted to the region¡¯s relatively benign catastrophe climate, global reinsurers are continuing to expand from their regional bases in the DIFC. Read More
Articles October 2011
Private Eyes, Public Websites
The explosion of social networking sites has resulted in an infinite amount of information available online, but claims analysts using this information must always keep relevance in mind.  Read More
Research and White Papers June 2011
?Post-Level Term Research Results 2011: Predictive Modeling and Life Insurance

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµAPP completed an in-depth study looking at assumptions and experience for lapses and mortality at the end of the level premium period for level term business.

Read More