Academy files amicus curiae brief

The Academy filed on Jan. 27 an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the pending challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The court will hear oral arguments in March. The brief addresses a very narrow aspect of the case before the court—the severability of the individual mandate from the other market reform provisions, namely guaranteed issue and modified community rating. The brief does not take a position on the constitutionality of the individual mandate or whether any other provisions in the law are severable from the mandate—nor does it support or oppose the law as a whole. Read the brief. Read the Academy’s member alert on the filing. Read the news release. (01/27/12)

January HealthCheck now available

Read about recent health care reform activities in the latest edition of HealthCheck. (01/27/12)

Actuaries identify key policy priorities

As the nation prepares to hear the president’s State of the Union address, the Academy has detailed a list of policy priorities to restore the nation’s fiscal health and financial security. The Academy believes that improving the sustainability of the Social Security and Medicare programs, developing a new retirement security framework, achieving the goals of health reform, and developing regulatory systems to successfully manage financial systemic risk should be among the nation’s highest policy priorities in 2012. (01/24/12)

2011 Academy Legislative/Regulatory Review Now Available

The annual Academy legislative/regulatory year in review details significant legislative and regulatory activities affecting the actuarial profession, as well as the Academy’s work on these issues during the past year. Read the full alert. (01/23/12)

The 2012 Life & Health Valuation Law Manual is now available

You can order your copy online or by mail/fax. The manual is designed to help appointed actuaries comply with the requirements of the NAIC model Standard Valuation Law and the Model Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum Regulation. (1/20/12)

Feb. 8 Webinar: Medical Loss Ratios—Final Regulations and Repercussions for the Health Insurance Marketplace

In December 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services published final regulations implementing the medical loss ratio requirements in the ACA. Insurers have already begun complying with the reporting and rebate requirements under the ACA and this webinar will focus on the implications of the changes in the final regulations. Learn more. (01/17/12)

Upcoming Webinar: The Affordable Care Act—What Every Actuary Should Know

The Academy’s Health Practice Council will present a webinar on Feb. 10 to provide actuaries from all practice areas with essential background on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including key provisions in the law (focusing on those intended to expand coverage) and the status of implementation. Members are invited free of charge. Learn more. (01/11/12)

Please pay your membership dues by May 1 to avoid a 20 percent late fee.

2012 membership dues remain at the same level as 2011. If you haven’t paid your 2012 dues, click here to conveniently pay online. Now is also a good time to ensure your member profile is up to date, make any necessary changes, and sign up for Academy alerts—timely online bulletins about legislative and regulatory developments that keep members informed. Log in now to pay your dues, print your invoice, or to update your profile. (01/06/12)

Partial dues waivers—do you qualify? If you are under the age of 70 and retired, planning to retire soon, or on temporary leave, you may be eligible for a partial Academy membership dues waiver. Qualified members receive a substantial discount and can continue to enjoy the same benefits of full membership. Click here to learn more about how partial dues work and to apply. (01/06/12)

Casualty webinar to address issues fundamental to effective actuarial work: data, documentation and disclosure

Join the Academy and the CAS on Thursday, January 19, 2012, for a webinar that will address issues fundamental to effective actuarial work: data, documentation and disclosure. This webinar also will address the Code of Professional Conduct, the CAS Statements of Principle, relevant Actuarial Standards of Practice, and specific NAIC guidance for issuing statements of actuarial opinion. Learn more. (01/06/12)

Online issue of Jan/Feb Contingencies is now available

This issue features an article clarifying which organization’s continuing education requirements apply to actuaries practicing in the United States; a review of Ellen Schultz’s new book, Retirement Heist; an engaging history of three Victorian actuaries who made great contributions to the profession; and much more. (01/04/12)

Winter EAR now available

Read about issues that affect pension actuaries and the Academy’s work to advance sound pension policy in the latest edition of the Enrolled Actuaries Report. (12/19/11)

Academy and SOA partner on economic scenario generators

The Academy and the Society of Actuaries (SOA) have joined resources to manage the economic scenario generators used in regulatory reserve and capital calculations. The latest version of the interest rate and equity generator is now on the SOA website. The SOA will provide frontline support and maintenance for the economic scenario generators. A joint Society of Actuaries/American Academy of Actuaries Project Oversight Group will oversee the generators and assist the SOA in providing technical support and direction for the current and future versions of the generators.

All versions of the generators, pre-packaged scenario sets, and documentation will be archived on the Academy website. Academy members involved in creating and updating the generators will continue to work with the regulatory community and the SOA to refine the generators and implement regulatory requirements for economic scenario generators. Support questions should be directed to: ESGhelp@SOA.org. (12/16/11)

2011 Practice Note on Statements of Actuarial Opinion on P&C Loss Reserves

The Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting has released its 2011 practice note on Statements of Actuarial Opinion on P&C Loss Reserves. Click here to download the practice note now. Members of the American Academy of Actuaries may request a hard copy of the practice note by clicking here. (12/16/11)

New chairpersons appointed to ASB and ABCD

Robert Meilander has been appointed chairperson of the Actuarial Standards Board, and Paul Fleischacker has been appointed chairperson of the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline. Their terms will begin on Jan. 1, 2012. (12/15/11)

December Update now available

Read about the Academy’s recent activities in the latest edition of the Actuarial Update. (12/22/11)

Medicare webinar presentation

The Academy’s Health Practice Council presented a webinar, What Every Actuary Should Know about Medicare, on Dec. 9. More than 1,500 actuaries from all practice areas attended the 90-minute presentation on Medicare’s current structure and financial condition as well as options and prospects for reform in light of ongoing efforts to reduce the deficit. Presenters Tom Wildsmith, vice president of the health practice council, and Cori Ucello, senior health fellow, also discussed the effects of various options for reform on cost, access, and quality. Click here to view the presentation slides. Click here to download the audio file. For additional resources on Medicare, visit the Academy’s new online Campaign 2012 Toolkits: Delivering Objective Information on Public Policy Issues. (12/12/11)

The 2011 P/C Loss Reserve Law Manual is now available.

Click here to order your copy. The law manual is designed to help appointed actuaries comply with the NAIC annual statement requirements for statements of actuarial opinion. (12/02/11)

New: Campaign 2012 Toolkits

The first in a series of toolkits designed to provide actuaries in every practice area with the tools necessary to deliver objective information on public policy issues is now available. The toolkit—on Medicare’s financial condition—includes a slide deck that provides an overview of the structure of Medicare, the challenges to the program’s solvency and sustainability, and options that have been proposed to reform the program. Click here to learn more. (11/23/11)

2011 Record Published

The 2011 Record, the Academy Year in Review, is now available online. The Record documents how the Academy’s more than 1,200 volunteers work to fulfill its mission to serve the public and the actuarial profession. (11/17/11)

New Policy: All Academy Committee Members Required to Comply with CE Requirements

The Academy Board of Directors adopted at its October 28, 2011, meeting a recommendation from the Council on Professionalism that all Academy members who are members of any Academy board, committee, subcommittee, work group, task force, etc. (“committee”) annually must comply and attest to their compliance with the continuing education (CE) requirements of the U.S. Qualification Standards to serve as members of such committee. Please click here for more information. (11/16/11)

President’s Message

Read the first email message to members from 2012 Academy President Dave Sandberg. (11/11/11)

Summary of October 28 Board Meeting

Read a summary of the October 28, 2011, meeting of the Academy Board of Directors. (11/07/11)

Help from PAL

The Academy's Pension Assistance List (PAL) program helps people who have questions about their pension plans.

• Members of the public: Ask for assistance.
• Actuaries: Volunteer for PAL

Hotel discounts for members

Did you know you can use your Academy membership to get a business-class hotel room at Club Quarters in New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, or San Francisco? To find out how, log in to your member welcome page.