Description: This article is a book review of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism written by Anne Case and Angus Deaton. The book highlights factors that have attributed to the decline in life expectancy in the U.S. over the past two decades. Overall, there has been a significant increase in deaths of despair from drug overdoses, suicides, and alcoholic liver disease that has impacted life expectancy. The review of this book highlights key points and factors in this increase in deaths of despair based on the research of the authors. From an actuarial perspective, this book identifies areas within the U.S. society and economy that would continue this trend and impact future mortality rates and improvement scales.

Description: Compares the healthcare system of the US to the universal systems of selected other countries. Relies primarily on information compiled annually by The Commonwealth Fund. Will give the reader an understanding of the difference between universal healthcare, socialized medicine, and single-payer healthcare and how various national systems fall within these categories.

Description: States can make ACA markets more attractive by enforcing compliance. Unlike other state opportunities, it doesn't cost anything. Pennsylvania made the change this year.

Description: Retirement plan trustees are tasked with retirement plan administration. Trustees are responsible for hiring service providers and monitoring the quality of their work. This article discusses actuarial audits as a due diligence tool for public plan trustees.

Description: Describes the December 2021 COLA and other changes effective in 2022, along with how they are computed.

Description: Description of the design and purpose of the military health system and Veterans Health Administration's programs. Covers the types of benefits offered and how these programs differ from typical commercial health systems.

Description: Discusses the recent firing of the Social Security Commissioner and the president's legal authority to do so.

Description: Description of US Social Security COLA effective December 2024 and other automatic adjustments effective for 2025

Description: Introduction to the newsletter and general comments. Announces the Call for Essays competition for Social Insurance health topics.

Description: The article and guidebook of the same name use a stochastic simulation model to examine potential impacts of public pension plan risk-sharing policies on government employers and plan members. Policies examined include simple policies such as COLAs and employee contributions that are contingent upon investment returns or funded ratios, and more-complex policies similar to those used in the Wisconsin Retirement System.