Breakout Sessions

Slides from select breakout sessions are available to Academy members who attended the 2017 Annual Meeting and Public Policy Forum. Click on the titles to access the slides. 

Health Breakout Sessions

Learn how the Congressional Budget Office models the individual mandate’s effect on coverage projections, with reactions from policy experts from the American Enterprise Institute and the Urban Institute. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

With the 2016 election bringing a Republican Administration and Congress to Washington, efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have taken center stage throughout much of 2017. Despite close passage of the American Health Care Act in the House and consideration of multiple proposals (i.e., Better Care Reconciliation Act, Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson, and most recently Alexander-Murray), “uncertainty” remains the key word for 2017 and 2018. Join Congressional staff for up-to-date information on the status of legislative efforts to stabilize the individual market. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

In yesterday’s session, panelists focused on potential legislative changes in health care this year, but that’s not the only area of uncertainty in the health care system. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is ongoing, and representatives of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight will discuss the latest updates with respect to regulatory changes under current law. (Estimated CE: 1.8) 

Property/Casualty Breakout Sessions

Flood Insurance: The Changing Picture
Congress needs to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) this year. What happened? What are the changes moving forward? What does the future look like for insurers, regulators, actuaries, and consumers? What is the new role for private insurers in the flood insurance market? How might rising sea levels affect the NFIP? (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Auto Insurance in the 21^st Century
Speakers will provide an intriguing look at new and emerging technologies and how they will impact—and already are affecting—automobile insurance. Included will be a discussion of autonomous vehicles, shared vehicles, and distracted driving and how these new developments will impact consumers, regulators, and insurers. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

2018 Preview: A Survey of the State & Federal Landscapes
Speakers will address expected hot topics for next year in Congress, the state legislatures, and state regulatory agencies. Topics to be discussed may include: climate change, cyber risk, risk-based capital, travel insurance, Big Data, international reserving standards, and more. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Pension Breakout Sessions

Multiemployer Pension Plans: Is There a Runaway Ramp Before the Cliff?
Of the more than 10 million people who participate in multiemployer pension plans, 1 million or more are in plans that are unlikely to be able to fully deliver the pensions they have promised. In addition, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is likewise projected to fall short on its commitment to serve as a backstop to these troubled plans. As the clock keeps ticking toward insolvency, stakeholders are reaching deep to find creative steps that will ease the burden on pensioners and be both fair and affordable to the industry and the taxpayers. This session will focus on various mitigation approaches that are currently under consideration. You will hear directly from key parties about the challenges, barriers, and possible outcomes. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Public Pension Plans: The Pothole-Filled Road to Retirement Security?
Underfunded public pension plans and the increased share of government budgets they consume have generated plenty of headlines, but how deep and pervasive are the problems? This session will focus on the sustainability of state and municipal retirement programs. Speakers will dive inside the data to explore the characteristics and patterns of plans that are sustainable as well as those that may have problems in the short, intermediate, or long-term—and why. Speakers will share their perspectives on how pension plans are evolving in response to growing pension costs and risks, and on how to maintain a sustainable plan while managing the competing priorities of running a state or local government. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

National Retirement Policy Objectives: Are We on the Same Page?
American taxpayers spend significant resources supporting retirees and encouraging working Americans to save for their own retirement, but are we getting what we want? What we need? Social Security is not on a sustainable path, and relying solely on Social Security may not allow retirees to maintain their standard of living. Half of the population is not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, and most who are covered have no guaranteed lifetime income other than Social Security. In this session, speakers will discuss what our national retirement policy objectives should be and assess the adequacy and efficiency of current policies in achieving those objectives. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Life Breakout Sessions

Solving for Solvency
Insurance company solvency received renewed focus as a result of the financial crisis. State, federal and international regulators have introduced new oversight tools and capital measures. The panel will discuss changes in the approach and methods to determining solvency in the U.S. and the public policy implications for insurance markets and product offerings. The professional responsibilities of the actuary in insurance company solvency will be highlighted. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Finding a Balance: The Role of Nonguaranteed Elements in Life Insurance and Annuity Contracts
Americans have been purchasing life insurance and annuity contracts with nonguaranteed elements (NGEs) for decades. But when insurance companies change NGEs on policies in force, the public reaction is often a mix of surprise and concern. This session will consider the pros, cons, and history of NGEs, review emerging state governance, and contemplate approaches to improve customer experience. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

Emerging Trends in Mortality
Understanding the drivers of changes in mortality trends is crucial in terms of developing legislative and regulatory frameworks that support an aging population, including ensuring sustainable public programs and individual health and retirement security. Researchers and regulators are taking steps to understand and address these trends, from studying socio-economic implications for mortality to exploring the effects of the ongoing opioid epidemic to updating mortality improvement factors to reflect mortality risk in statutory reserves and/or risk-based capital. Panelists will discuss a number of these emerging trends in mortality and the latest research on the various drivers. (Estimated CE: 1.8)

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