Uninsured RX

This paper presents data on fifty state and substate insurance markets, in terms of the 2003 relative shares of the largest health plans and the antitrust index of concentration. It presents 2000-03 data on rates of growth in premiums, costs, operating earnings, returns on equity, and share prices for the nation's largest health plans (Well-Point, Anthem, United, Aetna, and CIGNA). Private insurers face renewed price and profit pressures in the short term, but long-term prospects depend on the emergence of new products and new competitors in an increasingly consolidated industry.

Actuaries in Australia have been involved in giving advice to health insurance funds for many several decades. The profile of this role has changed significantly in recent years. This paper traces the increasing level of involvement of actuaries in health insurance. It includes an overview of the health industry and the regulatory and structural initiatives in the late 1990s and the consequent and progressive formalizing of actuarial involvement early in the 21st century.