Biohazard lab workbench
Articles July 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Epidemiological models explained

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s Eric Westhus explains the main categories of epidemiological models that have been developed by researchers around the world to study COVID-19.

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Empathy word blocks
Articles July 2020
COVID-19 Brief: The urgent need for empathy in insurance today
Empathy, understanding, and proactive assistance are vital during challenging times, especially when human touchpoints in established processes are limited. Stephen Goldstein of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPX, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s transformation engine, explains how insurance professionals honing these sk... Read More
DNA and red COVID molecules
Articles July 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Do your genes carry the secret to disease response?
While researchers are working hard to understand the coronavirus's epidemiology, some studies suggest that genetics may play an important role. Carmela Tedesco of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPX and Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Gayathri Ravi Shankar explain how genome studies could lead to more targeted therapeutic and... Read More
Do infection rates vary by age
Articles July 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Why insurers should look closer at infection rates by age
Do infection rates vary by age? In this article, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Global Data and Analytics team studies estimates of pandemic experience in Spain and England so far, and uncovers remarkable differences. However, insurers need to bear in mind that these trends may look very d... Read More
Splash of mud
Articles June 2020
How Deep is the Mud? COVID-19, Mental Health, and Claims
The future of the COVID-19 pandemic is certainly muddy, with ongoing implications for claimant mental health, rehabilitation prospects, and claims duration. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Dr. Adela Osman and Belinda Thorpe ask "How deep is the mud?" in the June 2020 edition of FA News.... Read More
Holding hands with woman in hospital bed
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 Brief: What is Kawasaki Disease and its potential link with COVID-19 in children?
Recently, a novel Kawasaki-like disease has been described as an emerging consequence of the COVID-19 infection. However, the association requires further investigation to better clarify the mechanisms behind this relationship. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Dr. Paul Davis reviews the latest re... Read More
Life policy application on an ipad
Articles June 2020
Make It Known: Practical Steps for Underwriters to Combat Fraud amid COVID-19

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Colin DeForge considers what underwriters know and don’t know in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and offers practical steps on how to prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of this climate of uncertainty. 

This article is Part II in a series...

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Man holds rubix cube, signaling puzzle solving and product creation
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Lean Times Call for Lean Innovation

Chase Huey of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPX, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s transformation engine, explains how the implementation of the lean methodology can optimize processes and improve project success rates during the COVID-19 crisis.

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Red paper airplane leading group of other airplanes
Articles June 2020
The Science – and Art – of Leadership | Carmony Wong

The International Insurance Society (IIS) 55th Global Insurance Forum attracts a diverse delegation of global insurance and reinsurance executives, regulators, academics and policymakers to discuss the issues that are shaping the future of the ins...

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Candida Auris illustration
Articles June 2020
Candida Auris: A Quietly Emerging Health Threat

The past several decades have seen microbes become increasingly resistant to the modern arsenal of antimicrobial drugs, even as few new antimicrobial drugs have been discovered or developed. Against this backdrop, the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris (C. auris...

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Image of red COVID-19 molecule
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Using the Gompertz model to estimate COVID-19 risk by age
Who is at greatest risk of dying with COVID-19? One of the oldest mathematical formulations in actuarial science offers clues. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Global Research and Data Analytics team demystifies the math behind current risk assessments by age and other factors. For more on this t... Read More
Masked couple representing COVID-19 threat
Research and White Papers June 2020
Making Sense of COVID-19 Case Fatality Data: Sources and Limitations of Analyzing Age- and Sex-Stratified Data from Around the World
Are men dying from COVID-19 at a consistently higher rate? What is the relationship between the case fatality rate and age? Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s Global Research and Data Analytics team delves deep into publicly available data by age and sex, weighing country-specific uncertainties and... Read More
social isolation illustration featuring lonely figures
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 Brief: Insurers connecting consumers to mental health resources amid pandemic
Could mental health be a casualty of quarantine and self-isolation measures aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19? Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Diana Bosworth explores rising reports of stress, anxiety, and depression, and identifies insurance product innovations aimed at helpi... Read More
Rows of plasma bags in hospital
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 and Convalescent Plasma: A Q&A with Leading Researcher Dr. Jeffrey P. Henderson
Could the early 20th century remedy of plasma transfusions help fight the 21st century scourge of COVID-19? Dr. Jeffrey P. Henderson of Washington University is seeking to find outThe  Read More
Lightbulb to launch graphic of lightbulb transforming into a gear
Articles June 2020
Life and Health Insurance Consumer Offerings in a Time of COVID-19
How are life and health carriers responding to the pandemic? After performing a global review, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP identifies six primary product development trends to watch. Read More
Target with dart over business skyline
Articles June 2020
COVID-19 Brief: What actions can companies take to get to the other side of the crisis?

As the world looks forward to a return to normalcy, indications are that the pandemic will have lasting impact even after the immediate crisis is over. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s Matthew Easley offers suggestions on how companies can approach the longer-term financial implications of the...

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Stem cells being extracted from storage
Articles June 2020
The Rise of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Explore the important and growing world of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in ReFlections. HSCT is the standard of care for many hematological malignancies and has found new utility in the treatment of immunological and hereditary conditions. 

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Physician exam of thyroid and neck for cancer
Articles June 2020
Head and Neck Cancers: Update 2020

Head and neck cancers were the eighth most common cancers worldwide in 2018 and accounted for 3% of all cancer diagnoses and about 1.5% of cancer deaths in the U.S. alone. Epidemiologist Dr. Lauren Garfield discusses well known and emerging risk factors, survival rat...

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Image of vibrant data superimposed over mobile device user
Articles June 2020
Augmented Underwriting for Life Insurance
Post-human underwriting? In , Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP's Dr. Dihui Lai discusses the current state of artificial intelligence and the potentia... Read More
Plasma in vial in lab
Articles June 2020
HbA1c Levels – Mortality Biomarker or Random Fluctuation?

Over the past three decades, the global prevalence of diabetes has risen to record levels. There has been a corresponding increase in the use of the glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test to assess or detect diabetes. An increasing number of underwriters are now also c...

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