Exploring Global Health Care Cost Drivers: Australia and Singapore
September 2, 2015
8-9:30 p.m. Eastern
Health care cost growth is a global issue. Regardless of the structure of their systems—public, private, or some combination—countries all over the world have to evaluate and address varying degrees of health care cost growth. Exploring comparative experience with health care cost trends and the drivers of cost increases worldwide was the objective of a 2015 webinar series jointly sponsored by the American Academy of Actuaries’ Health Practice International Task Force and the International Actuarial Association Health Section.
The third webinar in this series provided a unique opportunity to learn about the successes and challenges that both Australia and Singapore have experienced as they have worked to identify and address particular cost drivers. This webinar was a 90-minute examination and analysis of both countries’ health care systems, with a focus on health care cost trends. Panelists explored some of the following topics for both countries:
- The health care financing system;
- Efforts to address health care costs;
- Unique programs or aspects of the system that could be relevant to other countries;
- Examples of successes and challenges in each of the health care systems;
- Metrics used to measure health outcomes; and
- Anticipated changes and the impact of future health care cost trends.
The fourth webinar in this series, scheduled for November 4, will feature Canada and Chile.
View the first webinar of the series, featuring Israel and the Netherlands, and the second webinar, featuring South Africa and the United States.
DETAILS
September 2, 2015 (date for attendees in the United States*)
8-9:30 p.m. Eastern
* Webinar took place on September 3 for attendees located in Singapore (8 a.m. local time) and Australia (10 a.m. Sydney time), due to crossing the international date line.
WEBINAR PRESENTERS
- Alvin Fu, Member, Singapore Actuarial Society
- Candice Ming, Member, Institute of Actuaries of Australia
- Stuart Rodger, Member, Institute of Actuaries of Australia
WEBINAR MODERATOR
April Choi, MAAA, FSA; Chairperson, International Actuarial Association Health Section
ABOUT OUR GUEST PRESENTERS
Alvin Fu, Member, Singapore Actuarial Society
Alvin is presently senior vice president and head of group insurance marketing at Great Eastern Life Singapore. His current responsibilities includes account management, marketing and product development for its 2,600 employee benefits corporate customers, as well as ensuring the continued growth and profitability of the portfolio.
Prior to joining Great Eastern, he spent several years in Aviva as senior actuarial manager and certifying actuary, where he was responsible for the actuarial aspects of its general insurance, employee benefits, and retail health business.
A firm believer in contributing back to the actuarial community, Alvin served as the chairperson for the Singapore Actuarial Society Health & Retirement Conference 2014, and co-chairperson for the Health Insurance Conference 2012.
Alvin is a graduate from Nanyang Technological University, and is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and the Singapore Actuarial Society.
Candice Ming, Member, Institute of Actuaries of Australia
Candice is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (U.K.) and an accredited member of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. She has spent the past 12 years working predominantly in the health insurance and employee benefits industries and her experience extends over the Australian, Singaporean, and South African markets.
She is currently a manager in the actuaries and consultants team at Deloitte Australia, specializing in health finance, and consults to health funds, corporates, associations, and governments.
In her private capacity, Candice is a member of the Australian Actuaries Magazine Editorial Committee and has provided actuarial support to the education and examination division of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. She is also a keen amateur age group triathlete.
Stuart Rodger, Member, Institute of Actuaries of Australia
Stuart is a partner in Deloitte Australia. He focuses on health, health finance, and strategy for those in the sector. Stuart’s clients include governments, health funds, and health care providers.
In a career spanning over 30 years, he has worked as a business leader or an actuary in Australia, the U.K., Singapore, and Japan. Prior to joining Deloitte, his career included roles for major insurers heading corporate development and strategy, marketing, sales channel support, and many years as appointed actuary for life and health insurers, including 5 years as a director of a U.K. life insurer.
He has participated in several committees of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, including the Health Practice Committee, Ageing Population Taskforce, and Membership Committee.
ABOUT OUR MODERATOR
April Choi, MAAA, FSA; Chairperson, International Actuarial Association Health Section; Member, Academy Health Practice Council
April Choi is an actuarial executive with over 35 years of health care experience. She is currently an independent actuarial consultant based in California.
April has been the chairperson of the International Actuarial Association Health Section since 2014. She was the chairperson of the American Academy of Actuaries' Health Practice International Task Force from 2009 to 2014. She is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries' Health Practice Council, chairperson of the Public Program Committee, and she has served on many of the American Academy of Actuaries' health care reform workgroups. She is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
