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Life insurance has classically provided financial security to millions of families to offset the financial loss due to the premature death of a breadwinner. Life insurance for this purpose can be as simple as a 10-year term policy providing for a temporary need, or the more complex indexed universal life (IUL) that has become one of the most popular cash value policies purchased in the last 15 years. However, policy sales have begun to shift away from a focus on death benefits toward providing tax-free retirement income. When premium financing is added to the inherent complexity of IUL, such plans have been failing at an alarming rate. The result can end in time-consuming and costly litigation against agents and their insurance companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole life insurance is structured to guarantee policy premiums, cash values, and death benefits from the time of purchase until the time to file a death claim. For more than 200 years, whole life was not only the product of choice to assure lifetime bene- fits, it was essentially the only choice. This tradition was upended with the introduction in 1978 of universal life (UL). UL was the first product to break from up-front guarantees with an orientation depending on largely nonguaranteed elements. "Premiums" haven't been the same since. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life insurance policies can be straightforward (10-year term) or more complicated (indexed universal life with a proprietary index and a 50-page illustration), and there are many policy styles in between. When considering what type of product is suitable and in the client's best interest, one of the most difficult aspects of the buying process is appreciating that the illustration is not the policy. Policy illustrations are a presentation of nonguaranteed premiums, policy credits, policy debits, and death benefits reflecting a single scenario in which crediting rates don't vary, policy expenses don't deviate from the original nonguaranteed schedule, and customers always pay the planned premium into the policy (and may or may not borrow)--as the illustration assumes. This is not how life insurance works in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased private nonemployer health insurance options, expanded Medicaid eligibility, and provided preexisting health condition protections. We evaluated insurance coverage among long-term adult survivors of childhood cancer pre- and post-ACA implementation. Methods Using the multicenter Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, we included participants from 2 cross-sectional surveys: pre-ACA (2007-2009; survivors: n = 7505; siblings: n = 2175) and post-ACA (2017-2019; survivors: n = 4030; siblings: n = 987). A subset completed both surveys (1840 survivors; 646 siblings). Multivariable regression models compared post-ACA insurance coverage and type (private, public, uninsured) between survivors and siblings and identified associated demographic and clinical factors. Multinomial models compared gaining and losing insurance vs staying the same among survivors and siblings who participated in both surveys. Results The proportion with insurance was higher post-ACA (survivors pre-ACA 89.1% to post-ACA 92.0% [+2.9%]; siblings pre-ACA 90.9% to post-ACA 95.3% [+4.4%]). Post-ACA insurance increase in coverage was higher among those aged 18-25 years (survivors: +15.8% vs +2.3% or less ages 26 years and older; siblings +17.8% vs +4.2% or less ages 26 years and older). Survivors were more likely to have public insurance than siblings post-ACA (18.4% vs 6.9%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 to 2.6). Survivors with severe chronic conditions (OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 3.0 to 7.3) and those living in Medicaid expansion states (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.7 to 3.4) had increased odds of public insurance coverage post-ACA. Among the subset completing both surveys, low- and mid-income survivors (<$40 000 and <$60 000, respectively) experienced insurance losses and gains in reference to highest household income survivors (≥$100 000), relative to odds of keeping the same insurance status. Conclusions Post-ACA, more childhood cancer survivors and siblings had health insurance, although disparities remain in coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial planners should understand the role that Social Security survivor benefits play in the financial planning process. It is important to know that they do not provide all the life insurance that is needed. That said, survivor benefits are provided to millions of widows and children. The rules for how long the benefit checks will last need study and should be explained to the client. In addition, it should be noted that survivor benefits can be subject to the retirement earnings test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological age, reflecting the cumulative damage in the body over a lifespan, is a dynamic measure more indicative of individual health than chronological age. Accelerated aging, when biological age surpasses chronological age, is implicated in poorer clinical outcomes, especially for breast cancer (BC) survivors undergoing treatments. This preliminary study investigates the impact of a 16-week online supervised physical activity (PA) intervention on biological age in post-surgery female BC patients. Telomere length was measured using qPCR, and the ELOVL2-based epigenetic clock was assessed via DNA methylation pyrosequencing of the ELOVL2 promoter region. Telomere length remained unchanged, but the ELOVL2 epigenetic clock indicated a significant decrease in biological age in the PA group, suggesting the potential of PA interventions to reverse accelerated aging processes in BC survivors. The exercise group showed improved cardiovascular fitness, highlighting PA's health impact. Finally, the reduction in biological age, as measured by the ELOVL2 epigenetic clock, was significantly associated with improvements in cardiovascular fitness and handgrip strength, supporting improved recovery. Epigenetic clocks can potentially assess health status and recovery progress in BC patients, identifying at-risk individuals in clinical practice. This study provides potential and valuable insights into how PA benefits BC survivors' health, supporting the immediate benefits of a 16-week exercise intervention in mitigating accelerated aging. The findings could suggest a holistic approach to improving the health and recovery of post-surgery BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an outstanding task for all international healthcare organisations to understand how healthcare services learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to understand whether the treatment and holistic care received by each person who died with presumed nosocomial COVID-19 in our United Kingdom hospital was provided with kindness and compassion. A multi-professional team carried out a service evaluation underpinned by Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology. Our current Learning from Death data collection tool was supplemented by the addition of narrative analysis to augment our qualitative findings. We identified a total of 63/143 patients as dying from presumed nosocomial COVID-19 in our hospital. The deaths occurred in hospital between 15 April 2020 and 29 January 2021. We found evidence of individualised decision-making in complex medical situations, alongside the challenge of managing COVID-19, with appropriate management of deterioration and appropriate symptom control. A Learning from Death programme benefits from a multi-professional approach that utilises the skilled workforce mix that exists in our hospitals. The use of AI methodology and addition of narrative analysis is practical and adds valuable qualitative data to the scrutiny of deaths. Sharing the narrative of those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the evidence that healthcare professionals strive to do their best even in the most challenging circumstances and do so with compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Derecho de la Seguridad Social, Laborum is the property of Ediciones Laborum S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Consider the choice of outcome for overall treatment benefit in a clinical trial which measures the first time to each of several clinical events. We describe several new variants of the win ratio that incorporate the time spent in each clinical state over the common follow‐up, where clinical state means the worst clinical event that has occurred by that time. One version allows restriction so that death during follow‐up is most important, while time spent in other clinical states is still accounted for. Three other variants are described; one is based on the average pairwise win time, one creates a continuous outcome for each participant based on expected win times against a reference distribution and another that uses the estimated distributions of clinical state to compare the treatment arms. Finally, a combination testing approach is described to give robust power for detecting treatment benefit across a broad range of alternatives. These new methods are designed to be closer to the overall treatment benefit/harm from a patient's perspective, compared to the ordinary win ratio. The new methods are compared to the composite event approach and the ordinary win ratio. Simulations show that when overall treatment benefit on death is substantial, the variants based on either the participants' expected win times (EWTs) against a reference distribution or estimated clinical state distributions have substantially higher power than either the pairwise comparison or composite event methods. The methods are illustrated by re‐analysis of the trial heart failure: a controlled trial investigating outcomes of exercise training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Those who lose a loved one to homicide are considered crime victims, and accordingly may be eligible for state services and compensation. Yet institutionalized constructs about good/innocent and bad/guilty victims can trigger law enforcement agents' presumptions of how deserving a homicide loss survivor is of resources, responsiveness and support. These attitudes can impact discretionary decision-making about assistance for survivors. Using qualitative in-depth interviews with Homicide Unit and Victim Services Unit personnel at one agency, this study explores these perceptions and their impacts on advocacy for homicide loss survivors. Ultimately, there are justice implications for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine quasi-experimental variation in spousal death and age eligibility for survivors benefits using US tax records to study the effects on American households' labor supply and the design of social security's survivors insurance. Benefit eligibility at the exact age of 60 induces sharp reductions in the labor supply of newly widowed households, highlighting the value of survivors benefits and the liquidity they provide following the shock. Among eligible widows, the spousal death event induces no increases in labor supply, suggesting little residual need to self-insure. Using theory, we underscore the program's protective insurance role and its high valuation among survivors. (JEL D12, D91, G22, G51, H55, J16, J22) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we seek to illuminate the public sector relevance of the weighty subject of death, and to identify the stakes in avoiding the subject. Our purpose is to unlearn silence about Public Administration's (PA's) potential role in understanding, communicating, and addressing the avoidable and unavoidable in human death and suffering. At this time, death seems to be all around, and at the same time, nowhere. Contending that the academic field of PA understates the degree to which death features in actual PA practice, this article establishes death's relative absence in the journals of the field before examining obstacles to its presence. We identify and critically examine potential barriers to death's inclusion in PA, suggesting ways forward and intimating that COVID-born openness to recognition and discussion of death is not likely to last without conscious efforts. In illuminating objections and stakes we propose that PA theory and praxis and the public sector itself would benefit by confronting death avoidance, anxiety, and dread with greater and more intentional reflection, deliberation, and literacy on these subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) and Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB) are options that may be included at the inception of a variable annuity (VA) contract. In exchange for small fees charged by the insurer, they give the policyholder a right to receive a guaranteed minimum level of annuity payment (GMIB) and a guaranteed minimum level of payment when the policyholder dies (GMDB), respectively. A combination of these two options may be attractive since it protects the policyholder's investment from potential poor market behavior as well as mortality risk during the accumulation phase. This study examined the pricing of a composite variable annuity incorporating both the GMIB and GMDB options (a Guaranteed Minimum Income–Death Benefit, notated GMIDB). We used a non-arbitrage valuation method, decomposed the GMIDB value into two parts, and derived an analytical pricing formula based on a constant fee structure. The formula can be used to determine the fair fee to be charged. We conducted comprehensive sensitivity analyses on critical parameters to determine what drives the value of a GMIDB option. Our approach offers a simple and deterministic way to price a VA embedded with the GMIDB option. Our numerical findings suggested that the annuity conversion rate, age of the policyholder, and volatility of risky investments are significant in the valuation of a GMIDB option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Competitive intelligence (CI) involves monitoring competitors and providing organisations with actionable and meaningful intelligence. Some studies have focussed on the role of CI in other industries post-COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This article aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the South African insurance sector and how the integration of CI and related technologies can sustain the South African insurance sector post-COVID-19 epidemic. Method: Qualitative research with an exploratory-driven approach was used to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the South African insurance sector. Qualitative secondary data analyses were conducted to measure insurance claims and death benefits paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The research findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the South African insurance industry, leading to a reassessment of pricing, products, and risk management. COVID-19 caused disparities in death benefits and claims between provinces; not everyone was insured. Despite challenges, South African insurers remained wellcapitalised and attentive to policyholders. Integrating CI and analytical technologies could enhance the flexibility of prevention, risk management, and product design. Conclusion: COVID-19 requires digital transformation and CI for South African insurers' competitiveness. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI), big data (BD), and CI enhances value, efficiency, and risk assessments. Contribution: This study highlights the importance of integrating CI strategies and related technologies into South African insurance firms' operations to aid in their recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. It addresses a research gap and adds to academic knowledge in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article "Administering Freedom: The State of Emancipation after the Freedmen's Bureau" by Dale Kretz, the author explores the experiences of Black people in the post-Civil War era and their engagement with various government agencies such as the Freedmen's Bureau, the Freedmen's Branch, the Pension Bureau, and the Southern Claims Commission. Kretz examines how Black individuals used their status as citizens to intervene in the administration of freedom and acquire documented and rights-bearing citizenship. The article delves into topics such as land reform, labor contracts, refugee camps, bounties, pensions, and the challenges faced by Black veterans in securing disability benefits. It also highlights the role of Black women in navigating the administrative state and establishing their claims. Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the history of emancipation and the political struggles of freedpeople in the post-slavery South. [Extracted from the article]

The document discusses a case before the European Court of Human Rights involving discriminatory treatment of a widower in Switzerland who lost his survivor's pension when his youngest child reached adulthood, while widows continued to receive the benefit. The Court found a violation of Article 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms read in conjunction with Article 8. The case highlights issues of gender discrimination in social welfare benefits and the need for equal treatment under the law. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the topic of social protection for self-employed individuals in the European Union (EU). It emphasizes the significance of social protection for this group, as they contribute to the economy and face financial risks. The article aims to improve the regulatory provisions for their social protection and highlights the importance of social justice and equality. It discusses the concepts of social protection and social security, as well as the challenges faced by the EU's social insurance system. The text also explores the legal status of self-employed individuals in terms of social security law and suggests policy initiatives to enhance social protection for the self-employed. Overall, the article provides insights into the social protection and social security systems, their challenges, and the principles that guide them. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Revista de Derecho de la Seguridad Social, Laborum is the property of Ediciones Laborum S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan has the task and function of administering Employment Social Security through 5 Employment Social Security Programs, namely Employment Injury Insurance Program (EII), Death Benefit Program (DB), OldAge Benefit Program (OAB), Pension Benefit Program (PB), and Unemployment Insurance Program (UI). The aim of this research is to analyze 345 strategies in an effort to achieve the target of membership in BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. This study used qualitative research methods. The data collection technique in this research is a literature study obtained from Google Scholar and internal research carried out internally at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. The collected data was analyzed in three stages: data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The research results show that the 345 strategy is the right strategy to increase membership with 3 main programs, namely retention, intensification, and expansion, with 4 focuses, namely village ecosystems, market ecosystems, e-commerce and SMEs, and vulnerable workers through 5 engines, namely agency systems, figures, supply chain, auto debit, compliance, and positive supervision. This strategy can increase public awareness, increase coverage, or increase BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participation regarding the benefits of the EII, DB, OAB, PB, and UI programs, as well as increase BPJS Ketenagakerjaan program participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses key developments in tax and estate planning in Australia in 2024, focusing on lost trust deeds, loans, gifts, books of account, and significant changes in superannuation and estate planning. Topics include challenges posed by lost trust deeds, principles related to loans, gifts, and books of account in estate planning, and a controversial aspect of superannuation known as "fast death tax."

Copyright of Necmettin Erbakan University School of Law Review is the property of Necmettin Erbakan University School of Law Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Derecho de la Seguridad Social, Laborum is the property of Ediciones Laborum S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The fiduciary of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) trust has responsibilities and must follow certain duties. A person is a fiduciary if they exercise any discretionary authority or control over the management or disposition of the plan's assets, render investment advice or have any authority or responsibility to do so for a fee or other compensation, or have any discretionary authority or responsibility in the administration of the plan. The fiduciary must discharge those duties as a prudent person would, with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence of a person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters. ERISA Sections 404(a)(1)(A) and (B) require plan fiduciaries to act prudently and solely in the interest of the plan's participants and beneficiaries. This article outlines several areas to consider and guides a fiduciary through the consideration of purchasing life insurance as a means of providing a preretirement death benefit in a plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous types of life insurance policies--seemingly something for every taste. But which is right for me? Among other considerations, there are issues of product dependability versus potential risk that expectations won't be met; flexibility of premiums versus required payment amounts and schedules; and overall compatibility with one's comfort and style of accumulating longterm assets for death benefit or retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the lapsation of insurance policies in select insurance companies in India. The study found that lapsation rates are high in term and endowment insurance policies, particularly in private insurance companies. It also found that lapsation rates are lower in public and private insurance companies where agents receive higher commissions. The study suggests that reducing lapsation rates would benefit both policyholders and insurance companies. The article highlights the social implications of lapsation, as insurance companies invest excess premiums in corporate securities, contributing to the growth of industries and the Indian economy. The study aims to provide insights into the reasons for lapsation and offer suggestions to reduce it. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Jurisprudence Faculty Journal / Magallaẗ Kulliyyaẗ Al-fiqh is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this research paper, we examined the influence of demographic and household factors on adecision to surrender a life insurance policy before the end of the policy term. As per thehandbook on Indian Insurance Statistics 2020-21, by the 5 th year of policy sale, only 4 out of 24 life insurers could retain half of their policies. One of the reasons for this low persistenceis the increased surrender of policies. Surrendering a policy means the policyholdercancelling the policy and agreeing to take the cash value/surrender value accrued to thepolicy over time and forgoing the death benefit or maturity benefit. Generally, a policyacquires surrender value after the policyholder has paid the premiums continuously for threeyears. A survey of randomly selected 537 policyholders was conducted using a structuredquestionnaire to examine the influence of demographic and household factors on a decisionto surrender a life insurance policy. Results of our study suggest that demographic andhousehold factors influence the decision to surrender a life insurance policy. Marital statusand occupation are statistically significant predictors of the decision to surrender a policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life insurance is a long-term contract in which company is committed to paying a specified death or maturity benefit provided that the premiums are paid by the insured. However, a policyholder can terminate the policy either through lapse or surrender at any point of time. influence the profitability and liquidity of insurance companies through acquisition cost, loss of income from renewal premiums etc., and hence needs to be controlled and managed carefully. In this research, an effort is made to identify factors leading to lapsation and surrender of life insurance products and statistically assess their importance based on primary data collected from life insurance policy holders. The data and information collected about reasons for lapsing/surrendering a life insurance policy were analysed using Gretl. A logit model was developed to test the marginal effect of various factors having association with the decision to lapse/surrender a life insurance policy. ofLogit model on lapsation have identified age, marriage, loss of job, debt, hospitalization of dependents, agents' poor service and poor return from policy as the drivers of lapsation. Similarly results of logit model on surrender activity has identified marital status, occupation, marriage of self and children, loss of job, debt, children's education, house construction and poor return from policy are the major reasons for surrendering a life insurance policy before the completion of the term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the practical implications of testamentary discretionary trusts in estate planning, discussing their benefits, limits, and the functions of executors and trustees. It highlights the advantages of utilizing these trusts for asset protection, wealth management, and flexible taxation while also addressing circumstances where placing assets in a testamentary trust may not be suitable due to factors like transfer duties and land tax liabilities.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the valuation of equity-linked death benefit contracts and the multiple life insurance on two heads based on a joint survival model. Using the exponential Wiener process assumption for the stock price process and a K n distribution for the time until death, we provide explicit formulas for the expectation of the discounted payment of the guaranteed minimum death benefit products, and we derive closed expressions for some options and numerical illustrations. We investigate multiple life insurance based on a joint survival using the bivariate Sarmanov distribution with K n (i.e., the Laplace transform of their density function is a ratio of two polynomials of degree at most) marginal distributions. We present analytical results of the joint-life status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]