Cystatin C: a Heritage Labs Study

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Tue, 09/15/2009

Heritage Labs is currently conducting a study on the use of Cystatin C. June's eEnvoy newsletter provides background information on Cystatin C and a description of the ongoing study. The results of the study will be published in a later issue of the newsletter.

Hepatitis C Test Results in Insurance Applicants and in the General Population

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Tue, 09/15/2009

Heritage Labs' newletter eEnvoy deals with hepatitis C. We look at the relationship between ALT and hepatitis C as well as the mortality of the disease. Hepatitis C is a challenging disease from a detection perspective in a healthy population and we hope we present you with food for thought about your company’s approach to reflexing and underwriting this condition. A follow up article will discuss a new approach to the detection of hepatitis C in the insurance population.

Albumin Provides Important Mortality Prognostic Information Population

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Tue, 09/15/2009

Heritage Labs' newsletter eEnvoy discusses the mortality associated with albumin and globulin. Using our database of insurance applicants and the Social Security Death Master File, we can measure increases in mortality at levels of albumin and globulin that may surprise many of our readers. The risk rises even before the lowest 2.5th percentile which is the traditional level chosen for a “lower limit of normal”.. We also propose a unique formula to help discern the relationship between albumin and globulin better than the current A/G ratio.

A Tale Of 2 Life Markets

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

U.S. life insurers received far more requests for individual coverage from older applicants in August and fewer from young applicants.

Editorial comment: Bring in the long term care experts now

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

Consumers are not the only people who need educating about the cost of long term care and the need for long term care insurance.

How about our legislators? Example: The $50 to $60 daily LTC benefit that is being considered by a Senate panel is breathtaking for its lack of financial awareness.

CDA Eyes Disability Claims

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

Approved claims may have risen more quickly in 2008 at the Social Security Disability Insurance program than at private disability insurers.

The Council for Disability Awareness, Portland, Maine, is reporting that finding in a summary of results from an analysis of SSDI program data and a survey of the 15 CDA member disability insurance companies.

QuickStats: Average Number of Illness or Injury Bed Days During the Preceding 12 Months Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years, by Age Group

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

In 2007, U.S. adults spent an average of 4.5 days in bed during the 12 months preceding the interview because of illness or injury. On average, adults aged 18-44 years had fewer bed days (3.2) than adults aged 45-64 years (5.7), 65-74 years (5.2), and ≥75 years (7.1).

QuickStats: Average Number of Work-Loss Days During the Preceding 12 Months Among Persons Aged 18-64 Years, by Age Group and Sex -- National Health Interview Survey, US, 2007

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

In 2007, U.S. adults who had worked in the past week missed 4.0 days of work on average during the 12 months preceding the interview. Work-loss days increased with age for both men and women. Men aged 18-24 years missed 2.1 days of work, aged 25-44 years missed 3.7 days, and aged 45-64 years missed 4.5 days. Women aged 18-24 years missed 2.6 days of work, aged 25-44 years missed 4.0 days, and aged 45-64 years missed 5.5 days.

QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates Per 100,000 Population for the Three Leading Causes of Injury Death -- US, 1979-2006

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

Motor-vehicle traffic, poisoning, and firearms were the three leading causes of injury deaths in the United States in 2006. Age-adjusted death rates for motor-vehicle traffic-related deaths and deaths from firearms decreased from 1979 to 2006, whereas the rate for poisoning more than doubled during the same period. From 2005 to 2006, the age-adjusted poisoning death rate increased 13%, whereas motor-vehicle traffic and firearm death rates remained unchanged.

QuickStats: Percentage of Young Adults Aged 18-29 Years with Selected Chronic Conditions, by Sex -- National Health Interview Survey, US, 2005-2007

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

During 2005-2007, young women aged 18-29 years (17.4%) were more likely to report having at least one of six selected chronic conditions than young men (12.9%) in the same age group. For both young men and young women, asthma, arthritis, and hypertension were the three most common of the six conditions. Greater percentages of women than men reported having asthma, arthritis, or cancer; similar percentages of women and men reported having hypertension or diabetes.

QuickStats: Annual Rate of Nonfatal, Medically Attended Fall Injury Episodes, by Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, US, 2007

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

During 2007, the annual rate of nonfatal, medically attended fall injury episodes was 43 per 1,000 population. Adults aged ≥75 years had higher rates of these episodes compared with persons aged <65 years. Adults aged 45--64 years had lower rates of these episodes compared with children aged <18 years and adults aged ≥65 years.

A glimmer of hope: Growth prospects in the global insurance industry and the escalation of risk and capital management

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

In April 2009, the Economist Intelligence Unit surveyed, on behalf of KPMG International, 315 global insurance executives from around the world. This initial summary of findings is the first of a two-part series and examines how the financial crisis is changing the attitude of the global insurance industry to risk and capital management.

Milliman: Life - The European cross-border market: High worth, low visibility

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

Without attracting much attention, the European cross-border life insurance market has grown significantly over the past 15 years. Despite a relatively short history and low profile, this segment of the insurance industry is one of the largest in Europe, with potential for future growth.

Milliman: Combo LTC annuities: Here they come

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 included some key provisions that addressed for the first time the taxation of combination annuity plans featuring long-term care insurance (LTCI). The rules apply only to nonqualified annuities coupled with tax-qualified long-term care riders.

Milliman: The rise and risks of medical tourism

Submitted by Kathleen McGrath on Mon, 09/14/2009

The term 'medical tourism' seems to be cropping up everywhere these days. From trade and business journals to the popular press, traveling to another country specifically to obtain medical care is a significant new trend. In this challenging economy, where the cost of healthcare continues to spiral up and hundreds of thousands have lost their health insurance along with their jobs, it's not surprising to see keen interest in less expensive resources, especially because the savings are often substantial.

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