The Health Practice International Committee published an issue brief on global aging demographics, quality of life during the end-of-life period, palliative versus curative care, and strategies for address health care challenges at the end of life using case studies from a variety of countries.

Arnold Dicke, Chair of the Role of the Actuary Subgroup, presented an update on the development to the NAIC Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on the definition of “qualified actuary” in the valuation manual and standard valuation law. 

The Life Practice Council sent a comment letter to the NAIC's Financial Condition (E) Committee raising concerns over the process by which the NAIC is developing changes to the statutory framework for variable annuities (VAs), including both C-3 Phase II for risk-based capital (RBC) and Actuarial Guideline (AG) 43 reserve requirements.

Donna Claire, Chair of the PBR Governance Subgroup, presented an update to the NAIC Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on the Academy’s efforts on PBR implementation.

Dave Neve, Chair of the Academy’s Life Practice Council, presented a preliminary summary to the NAIC Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on the aggregation of mortality segments in VM-20.

Mary Bahna-Nolan, Chair of the Academy’s Life Experience Committee, gave a presentation to the NAIC Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on joint committee recommended changes related to guaranteed issue (GI) tables, and exposed simplified issue (SI) exposed tables and report. 

Mary Bahna-Nolan, Chair of the Academy’s Life Experience Committee, gave a presentation to the NAIC Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on developing accelerated  underwriting techniques.

The Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee published an issue brief on state-based initiatives to expand retirement coverage among workers who do not have access to employer-sponsored plans, and the alignment of these efforts with the Academy’s Retirement for the AGES principles.

The Risk Sharing Subcommittee and Premium Review Work Group submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the proposed rule for the 2019 benefit and payment parameters. The comments address proposed changes to the risk sharing mechanisms, special enrollment periods, essential health benefits, minimum essential coverage, and medical loss ratios.

The Health Practice Council submitted a letter to the U.S. Senate providing comments on the potential consequences of eliminating the ACA's individual mandate, as recently included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The Multiemployer Plans Committee submitted a comment letter to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on modifications to the instructions for the 2017 Schedule MB (Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Information) of the Form 5500.

Chair of the LTC & Disability Committee, Al Schmitz, gives a presentation to the National Conference of Insurance Legislators about long-term care and sales and premium increase data; understanding premium rate increases; and essential criteria in LTC reform.

The Comparative Effectiveness Work Group of the Health Care Delivery Committee published an issue brief providing an actuarial overview of comparative effectiveness research, including measuring its impact and its potential to reduce health care costs.

The Non-Guaranteed Elements Work Group submitted a comment letter on the NAIC's Life Insurance Buyer's Guide Q&A Draft. 

The Academy published a new Essential Elements paper, Tax Treatment of Pensions and Insurance Protections, highlighting select tax treatments of pensions and insurance protections, and outlining the potential public policy trade-offs of changes to the tax code. Essential Elements is a series designed to make actuarial analyses of public policy issues clearer to general audiences.

The Life Reinsurance Work Group Submitted a comment letter to the NAIC's Life Actuarial (A) Task Force on yearly renewable term (YRT) reinsurance premiums under Section 20 of the Valuation Manual. 

The Casualty Practice Council sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives providing comments on pending legislation to reauthorize and revise the National Flood Insurance Program. Read the news release. 

The Health Practice Council sent a letter to the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Labor, and HHS on the October 12 executive order.

The Life Products Committee submitted a comment letter to the Actuarial Standards Board regarding a proposed actuarial standard of practice (ASOP) on pricing of life insurance and annuity products.

The Academy announced a position statement in support of policy and educational initiatives to increase retirement income options within employer-sponsored defined contribution (DC) plans. Read the news release.