The Data Science and Analytics Committee released a major issue brief, An Actuarial View of Correlation and Causation - From Interpretation to Practice to Implications. The issue brief provides a discussion of key questions that actuaries may encounter as they work in the risk classification domain; actuarial practices surrounding data, predictive modeling, and risk classification that are also key considerations for public policymaking and regulatory efforts aimed at ensuring that insurance practices are not “unfairly discriminatory.”

Racial Equity Task Force issue brief discusses potential options to obtaining protected class information on insureds in the P&C insurance industry to test for practices that may disproportionally harm members of any protected classes. It also evaluates three general data collection methods—collecting additional data, capturing existing external data, or imputing data—for desirable attributes such as accuracy, efficiency, and the size of the data set.

The Individual and Small Group Markets Committee released an issue brief laying out the factors underlying premium rate setting and highlighting the major components driving premium changes in the individual and small group markets for 2023.

Social Security Committee issue brief on 2022 Social Security Trustees Report examining the latest detailed annual assessment by the federal government of the program’s solvency.

The Medicare Committee released an issue brief on the financing challenges facing the Medicare program based on the 2022 Medicare Trustees Report.

The Long-Term Care (LTC) Reform Subcommittee’s LTC Actuarial Equivalence Work Group released the public policy issue brief, Value of Reduced Benefit Options in Long-Term Care Insurance Rate Increases. This issue brief examines the relationship of benefits to premiums for reduced benefit options (RBOs) in the context of ongoing long-term care insurance (LTCI) premium rate increases.

Pension Committee issue brief highlighting key considerations around potential modifications to single employer pension plan funding rules.

The Health Care Delivery Committee released an issue brief on the “Implications of Hospital Price Transparency on Hospital Prices and Price Variation.” The brief emphasizes that price transparency may be a necessary, but not sufficient mechanism, to lower hospital prices and health care spending.

Series of Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee issue briefs published between July 2019 and March 2022 laying out guiding principles for a comprehensive national retirement policy.

Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee issue brief analyzing how retirement program design can impact decisions that participants make with the goal of improving retirement security.

Social Security Committee issue brief examining the potential effects of increasing the Social Security normal retirement age.

Pension Committee issue brief explaining complexities involved in the measurement of life expectancy estimates.

Workers' Compensation Committee issue brief on potential impacts to injured workers, employers and insurers involved in the opioid epidemic, and explores the effects on these stakeholders before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Medicaid Committee released an issue paper, Considerations for Reflecting the Impact of COVID-19 in Medicaid Managed Care Plan Rate Setting, which explores key components of rate setting during or shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, including data, assumptions and adjustments, risk mitigation, and communication.

Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee issue brief exploring the potential to redefine the role of employers involved in retirement programs by removing many of the direct responsibilities from employers.

Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee issue brief examining issues pertaining to newer and novel plan designs as they relate to risk sharing between plan sponsors and participants.

Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) released a discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Managing Population Health. This discussion brief is the final in the series developed by the HEWG to provide more context on issues raised in the initial discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Questions to Explore. This series was undertaken by the HEWG to lay the groundwork for their future exploration and research into health disparities.

Pension Practice Council issue brief debunking the myth that an 80% funded ratio is the proper basis for determining whether a pension plan is financially or “actuarially” sound. 

Medical Professional Liability Committee issue brief on considerations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic related to changes in health care delivery, the regulatory environment, and coverage and exposure consideration. 

Social Security Committee issue brief on 2021 Social Security Trustees Report examining the latest detailed annual assessment by the federal government of the program’s solvency.

Social Security Committee issue brief examining COVID-19 implications reflected in the annual Trustees Reports from 2020 and 2021.

Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Provider Contracting and Network Development. This discussion brief is part of a series developed by the HEWG to provide more context on issues raised in the initial discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Questions to Explore.

Medicare Subcommittee issue brief on the financing challenges facing the Medicare program based on the 2021 annual review of the Medicare program’s trustees.

The Individual and Small Group Markets Committee released an issue brief laying out the factors underlying premium rate setting and highlighting the major components driving premium changes in 2022.

Long-term Care (LTC) Reform Subcommittee issue brief on LTC financing reform proposals involving public programs. This issue brief provides a side-by side assessment of various federal and state reform programs and proposals using essential criteria for LTC financing reform proposals developed by the Academy.

Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Health Plan Benefit Design. This discussion brief is part of a series developed by the HEWG to provide more context on issues raised in the initial discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Questions to Explore.

Pension Practice Council issue brief considering mechanisms in place to help guarantee payment of pension plan participants’ earned benefits.

Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) Discussion Brief – Issue in Focus, Health Equity From An Actuarial Perspective: A Deeper Dive Into Health Plan Pricing. This discussion brief, which focuses on questions related to pricing health insurance products, is part of a series to identify areas that may affect health equity. An introductory discussion brief provided an overview of the HEWG’s work.

Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee issue brief outlining steps an employer might take when considering participation in or choosing a PEP or PEP provider.

The Automobile Insurance Committee's issue brief on automobile insurance pricing that explores how increased availability of data and technology has resulted in lower premiums paid by customers. It also examines how customers can impact the prices they pay based on factors they control.