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

The Long-term Care Reform Subcommittee submitted a comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Long-Term Care Insurance Reduced Benefit Options (EX) Subgroup regarding the July 22, 2021 exposure draft, Issues Related to LTC Wellness Benefits.

The Academy’s Securing Social Security Essential Elements provides updated figures and information on the financial outlook of Social Security following the release of the 2021 Social Security Trustees report. Essential Elements is a series designed to make actuarial analyses of public policy issues clearer to general audiences.

The Academy’s Medicare’s Long-Term Sustainability Challenge Essential Elements provides updated figures and information on the financial outlook of Medicare following the release of the 2021 Medicare Trustees report. Essential Elements is a series designed to make actuarial analyses of public policy issues clearer to general audiences.

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. Read the news release.

The September/October issue of Contingencies includes feature stories about transitions. “Realigning Long-Term Care Insurance” looks at why it makes sense to position LTCI within the health care continuum. “A Robot That Can Change Your Mind” covers how persuasive chatbots might be used in insurance. Plus, a President’s Message from Academy President Tom Campbell on teaming up with the Academy, a Tradecraft selection on applying predictive analytics, and an Up to Code article on the Code of Professional Conduct.

The August Actuarial Update looks ahead to the Academy’s Annual Meeting and Public Policy Forum, to be held in November. The event will be hybrid, with in-person and virtual options. Also in the issue: The Academy’s annual service award recipients; a professionalism webinar looked at proposed updates to the U.S.

The Summer HealthCheck covers recent developments and discussion briefs by the Health Equity Work Group, including its recent webinar on health equity topics. Also in the issue, Health Practice Council committees sent a letter to federal agencies on the No Surprises Act and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services payment parameters; the Long-Term Care (LTC) Reform Subcommittee released an issue brief on LTC financing reform; and recent state and federal legislative activity.