Description: In this third issue of International News in 2022, we feature a contribution by SCOR, a leading reinsurer, highlighting the Actuarial Awards that SCOR presents annually, since 1996, to the best academic work in actuarial science, with annual prizes in several countries throughout the world. We also feature an article by Jessica Leong, FCAS, on barriers that Asian women must overcome to become leaders. Jessica recounts her own experience and how in overcoming some challenges she became the first Asian president of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Description: This webcast will explore hedge strategies that can take advantage of synergies with existing business, improve liquidity and collateral management, incorporate opportunistic design-making, and reflect a company’s appetite for certain risks where excess returns can be earned.

Description: A panel of leading reinsurance executives will provide an overview of the health reinsurance market that explores existing reinsurance transactions reported under Schedule S, large claim research drawing insight from the latest five-year Merative Commercial MarketScan Research Database, stop-loss reinsurance options for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and other reinsurance applications being seen in the market.

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic helped accelerate many changes in the Health Care system that were already taking place. The major disruptions to the way providers operated was quite evident with shifting of focus away from elective services to create capacity for treating COVID-19. However, even before the pandemic, providers were adapting to changes in their environments.

Description: In this webcast, the presenter will cover mental health in insurance products. Learn about the public’s increased interest in mental health and the ways insurers can meet this demand, how we can embed such offerings in insurance and how to successfully expand mental health coverage to those in need. The second speaker will cover how cancer and the simplified issue insurance market has evolved in Korea. In this session, the speaker will share the ease of selling / onboarding, thus allowing a greater penetration of products.

Description: At the conclusion of the first part, attendees will be able to describe sources of reserve redundancy for products under Principle Based Reserve (PBR) and products under Commissioners' Annuity Reserve Valuation Method (CARVM). Such products include Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Fixed Annuity with and without rider. We will also review sources of capital redundancy from the C-1 factor under Risk-Based Capital (RBC) and assets such as Unrated Asset Credit Fund can have high C-1 factor even if its risks are limited. At the conclusion of the second part, the attendees will learn about potential Reserve Relief reinsurance solutions. Such solutions can provide Reserve Relief for annuity and term life businesses, as well as potential innovative asset-side solutions. Asset managers can structure assets that the C-1 factor aligned with the corresponding risk.

Description: LIMRA and the SOA Research Institute have completed the most up-to-date study of group life experience. The results include breakdowns for Basic Life, Supplemental Life, and Portability coverages and analysis for Life Insurance, Waiver of Premium, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment claims.

Description: Interview on opportunities for InsurTechs in Life and Health reinsurance. Themes covered include digital distribution and digital health data. The article also shares insights into the role of the reinsurer when working with InsurTechs.

Description: There is no silver bullet to improving retirement income outcomes for retirees. However, a combination of changes can be of significant value in addressing this overlooked issue. Although QLACs on the surface have potential value, they are not nearly as efficient as they could be. So far, employer plans have provided limited options for retirement income solutions. IRAs may not cost effectively serve the best interest of retirees. Employer plans should be encouraged to become retirement income providers and alternative approaches should be considered. The current prohibition on allowing plans to modify benefit payouts based on mortality experience should be reconsidered to allow for innovative plan income designs. Improvements to the deaccumulation stage of the retiree nest egg are challenging yet necessary.

Description: An interview with actuary Lee Gold reveals preliminary results of a recent SOA research project which surveyed employees on what retirement plan features they prefer.