Tracking Health Insurance for
Actuaries and Policymakers
Greetings!
Recently U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened a media briefing by saying, " As we mark 6 months since the declaration of the global health emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic is illustrating that health is not a reward for development, it’s the foundation of social, economic and political stability. We are not prisoners of the pandemic. Every single one of us can make a difference."
As we all grow weary of face masks, Zoom meetings and social distancing, these are encouraging words to remember. Take a moment to recognize that each of us plays a role in the broad solution. And appreciate the fact that our profession is playing an important role in advising the world's health and policy leaders as they navigate this historic storm. -- Dave Dillon
2021 Insurance Rates

The Pandemic's Impact on Premiums
An analysis of early rate filings shows little impact. And, the Society of Actuaries r eleased a new modeling tool to better understand the first wave and plan for potential future scenarios. Read the report.

Price Transparency
Hospitals must now disclose their prices to consumers, according to a judge's ruling.

Consumer Advocates Celebrate Ruling
Patient advocates are celebrating a new price transparency ruling that hospitals say will be difficult to implement and may, in fact, increases the costs that patients pay. Learn more .
Plan to Improve the ACA

Health reform is playing a central role in the upcoming election. Legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would alter the indexing factor used to determine premium tax credits. Known as ACA 2.0, the measure also would expand Medicaid, a trend that continues as state leaders and voters take a close look at the program to improve population health. Read more.

Special Enrollment Period
Despite a decision by federal health officials not to create a Special Enrollment Period in the wake of big job losses, several states have stepped in to create their own. By some estimates, federal marketplace exchanges may add as many as a million new members. Learn more here.

NAIC Report
A new report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners chronicles state insurance regulators’ actions in response to COVID-19 and how these actions have helped to mitigate its impact on consumers. Read the report.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports on the actions states are taking during the pandemic

The SOA has created a web page devoted exclusively to recently published research. Updated periodically, it is as an important repository for the Society's ongoing COVID-19 findings. Access and bookmark it here .



The Society of Actuaries 2020 Annual Meeting 
will be virtual.

PODCASTS

Prior to recording this interview with me, Kurt Wrobel, President of Geisinger Health Plan, served as the company's Chief Actuary. Listen as he provides his perspective on the pandemic, including actuarial decision-making when emerging data is uncertain and constantly changing.

Katie Keith, J.D., M.P.H., is probably best known for her popular blog on Health Affairs. She spoke with me about the current state of the ACA and what might be ahead in light of pending litigation.

The ACA, COBRA, Medicaid. Listen to former White House Senior Health Policy Advisor and current Kaiser Family Foundation EVP Larry Levitt discuss all aspects of
healthcare in a pandemic.

Harvard University economist David Cutler talks about the free-fall of the U.S. economy as a result of COVID. The impact has been huge, especially in health care.
How long will it last?

From telehealth visits to tracking COVID-19 with smart phones, Digital Health encompasses dozens of growing applications. How is this industry regulated? Which lines of business are best suited to it? Jackie Lee interviewed
actuary Marilyn McGaffin.

Do you work in the health reinsurance industry? Then you’ll want to listen to this podcast with David Vnenchak of Reinsurance Group of America, who provides an in-depth look at reinsurance products and their role in the health market.

This is an excellent recap of the SOA's 2020 Health Meeting. Jackie Lee catches up with Meeting Chair Deana Bell, who describes meeting highlights and how the event had to quickly move to virtual due to the pandemic.