Articles February 2017
Valentine’s Day – Of Hearts and Love
It is February. A time when walking through shopping centres will see you assaulted by plush heart-holding-gorillas and heart-wielding sales assistants, all promising to solve your love woes with heart-shaped chocolates.  Read More
Graphic of microbiome
Articles February 2017
From Microbiome to Insurance Medicine: Exploring a New Frontier in Science
The billions of bacteria residing in the human gut, called “microbiota,” make up an invisible world scientists are only beginning to explore. These bugs might exert far more influence on morbidity and mortality – and insurance medicine – than we ever suspected. Read More
Astronaut floating above earth, illustrating a moonshot in underwriting and medicine
Articles February 2017
The Right Stuff: Critical Illness in the U.S. Market
Insurers have taken note, and one innovation – the critical illness (CI) policy – offers a powerful solution to help patients land gently. Read More
Articles February 2017
Talk Therapy

In an era of big data, telephonic interviews remain the disability claim analyst's most effective tool. RGA’s U.S. Group Re is developing a new e-learning module and game for clients that coaches personnel on ways to conduct effective claimant interviews.

Read More
Claims Challenges: Illustration of Businessman rising above puzzle
Articles January 2017
Global Claims Views: Claims management challenges – Real or Imagined? Internal Industry Pressures

Are life insurers worldwide facing increasing challenges in investigating and validating claims? RGA surveyed its claims managers about their thoughts and experiences. This whitepaper reveals internal pressures on claims practices, including;
• Product design and ...

Read More
Research and White Papers January 2017
UPDATED: Marijuana - Not Just Blowing Smoke
As more governments liberalize cannabis regulations, the mortality and morbidity impacts of this drug, as well as its potential benefits when used for medicinal purposes, will be of great interest to the insurance industry. Read More
Articles January 2017
Simple Disability Offers a New Vehicle for Growth
As traditional insurance products become increasingly commoditized, the first impulse for carriers is to come down on price to win business. While competitive pricing is important, continually slashing premiums can lead to unsustainable business in the long term. How th... Read More
Illustration of the Thyroid
Articles January 2017
Update on Thyroid Nodule Imaging Guidelines

In May 2016, The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), the American College of Endocrinology (ACE), and the Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AME) issued the latest update of their Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Ma...

Read More
View of four seasons in a single view
Articles January 2017
Seasonality of Mortality
This article focuses on understanding how seasonality varies by country and region, and how flu and pneumonia mortality correlates with other causes of death.
Read More
Articles January 2017
Alzheimer's: An Update on an Old Disease

Given the pace at which the world’s population is aging, Alzheimer’s disease  may well be the next worldwide epidemic. Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment  present serious challenges to the insurance industry. Knowledge of progression factors cr...

Read More
Big Data: Image of ethernet cables in a mainframe computer
Articles January 2017
The Four R's Data Privacy: Regulations, Reasonable Expectations, Risks, and Reward
By focusing on regulations, reasonable expectations, risks and rewards concerning data, insurers can create a better customer experience for policyholders. Read More
Articles January 2017
Cancer Immunotherapy

This article reviews the recent and unprecedented acceleration in the understanding of cancer pathophysiology, which has led to the subsequent development of novel cancer immunotherapies. In part, this new direction in cancer treatment has been advanced by a greater ...

Read More
Multicolored data visualization in waves
Articles January 2017
Demonstrating the Value of Data

Estimating the cost to use the data is often more difficult, since you may need to consider the cost of hardware, software and staff to do the work, including acquisition and implementation time. Each of these may entail incremental spending or opportunity costs due ...

Read More
Articles January 2017
Application Language and Simplified Issue in Asia: Five Keys to Effective Screening Questions

Recent years have seen a significant shift in underwriting methodology, with the demand for simplified issue (SI) insurance increasing for all types of risk, from life to disability products. The ideal SI product balances streamlined processes that drive sales volume...

Read More
Articles January 2017
Telephone as Case Management Tool

A real conversation conducted over the telephone remains an important tool, if not the most important, for a disability case manager. RGA has observed in claim reviews over the years that the quality of the phone summary content is often lacking. This article of...

Read More
Illustration of multiple paths
Articles January 2017
Opinion: Four Steps to Accountability - Ethics in Insurance

When it comes to business, however, knowing the path you wish to take can and does matter. If you don’t know where you want to go, any path can seem fine. Unfortunately, many of us have also learned that following just any path easily leads to chaos and a culture in ...

Read More
View of four seasons in a single view
Publications January 2017
ReFlections Volume 40/39, January 2017
Delve into Alzheimer’s disease, explore seasonal mortality and more.
Read More
Claims analysts frantically climbing up ladders in illustration versus an individual sailing away
Articles December 2016
Global Claims Views: Claims Management Challenges – Real or Imagined? A Changing World – Environmental Factors
RGA undertook to survey its claims managers around the world, asking them to share their thoughts and experiences about current and developing changes and challenges in their markets. The results reveal a rapidly changing environment, driven by technological and medical... Read More
Articles December 2016
Non-Natural Death Trends in the United States
Non-natural causes of death include motor vehicle accidents, falls, suicides, homicides, drowning, poisoning, complications from medical or surgical treatments, and exposure to smoke and fire.
Read More
Articles December 2016
Friends for Life
The world is in the grip of a health crisis. Obesity, inactivity, and our poor diets are key factors in the growing trend of chronic illness. This in turn places significant stress on our healthcare systems as medical providers attempt to keep pace with demand. Read More