Critical Point

Milliman, Inc.
  • 4.9 (17)
  • BUSINESS
Critical Point

Objectivity matters. Today, more than ever. With no agenda, other than getting it right, Milliman’s Critical Point podcast takes a deep dive into subject matter that affects the health and well-being of people across the globe, from healthcare to retirement security, flood insurance to autonomous vehicles. Through a team of professionals ranging from actuaries to clinicians, technology specialists to economists, Critical Point examines the inherent challenges – and innovative solutions – that Milliman consultants encounter through their daily work around healthcare, employee benefits, risk management, technology, investment consulting, insurance, and financial services.

  1. OCT 7

    Healthcare costs in a presidential election year

    Healthcare costs are a hot topic as we approach open enrollment and the presidential election. In this episode of Critical Point, host Deana Bell sits down with Dave Liner and Jason Clarkson, principals at Milliman and co-authors of the Milliman Medical Index (MMI), to discuss the key drivers of 2024’s healthcare costs. They dive into the effects of government programs like Medicaid and the Inflation Reduction Act, the rising use of weight loss medications, and how these factors are shaping h...

    20 min

  2. AUG 12

    Ten questions everyone’s asking about captives

    Cyber risk, climate change, new pharmaceutical therapies—as companies look for ways to manage increasing costs and unforeseen exposures, captives are a popular mechanism to insure against the unexpected. Around since the 1950s, today there are more than 7,000 captive insurers worldwide, with many headquartered in Vermont, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. As these insurance vehicles grow in popularity, Milliman experts answer the top 10 questions everyone’s asking about captives.You can read t...

    23 min

  3. JUN 27

    Increasing diversity in clinical trials

    Drugmakers are taking steps to make sure clinical trials include participants from a variety of backgrounds—and they are steadily making progress, as evidenced by new studies of multiple sclerosis and sickle cell disease. Milliman health researchers Ellyn Russo and Chris Page unpack a history of distrust in medical research, the implications of failing to attract diverse study participants, and how simple strategies like rideshare vouchers, childcare, and check-in apps can help expand a study...

    29 min

  4. MAY 16

    Why life insurers are investing in private equity and real estate

    Life insurers have historically invested their portfolios in the relative safety of mortgages and bonds, but economic volatility, sticky inflation, and other headwinds have spurred many insurance companies to diversify into alternatives, a trend explored in a recent Milliman paper. On this episode of Critical Point, three of the paper’s authors discuss two alternative asset classes that are particularly attractive to insurers in today’s market: private equity and real estate. They talk about ...

    29 min

  5. MAR 11

    Are corporate pension plans making a comeback?

    For decades, companies with traditional pensions have been freezing those plans and replacing them with defined contribution options to help their employees save for retirement. But IBM made headlines when it restored its defined benefit program in early 2024. Three Milliman pension actuaries discuss this choice, new hybrid DB plan designs, and how plan sponsors can avoid the mistakes that led them to close their pension plans in the first place.You can read the episode transcript on our webs...

    20 min

  6. 12/05/2023

    Growing the actuarial profession in the developing world: Where the UNDP-GAIN initiative stands after one year

    Actuaries are vital to the insurance industry and national economies, but the profession is still emerging in many developing countries. That’s why Milliman and the United Nations Development Programme have launched a program to increase actuarial capacity around the world. In this episode, five Milliman volunteers reflect on the initiative’s first year and their work in 10 countries, from Nigeria to Nepal.You can read the episode transcript on our website.

    41 min

  7. 10/16/2023

    Artificial intelligence and insurance, part 2: Rise of the machine-learning models

    In our second Critical Point episode about AI applications in insurance, we drill down into the topic of machine learning and particularly its evolving uses in healthcare. Milliman Principal and Consulting Actuary Robert Eaton leads a conversation with fellow data science leaders about the models they use, the challenges of data accessibility and quality, and working with regulators to ensure fairness. They also pick sides in the great debate of Team Stochastic Parrot versus Team Sparks AGI.&...

    38 min

  8. 09/25/2023

    Artificial intelligence and insurance, part 1: AI’s impact on the insurance value chain

    Artificial intelligence has been the buzz term of 2023, evolving at a pace unimaginable when Milliman launched this podcast five years ago. For this 50th episode of Critical Point, we gathered a group of our AI experts to discuss how the technology is poised to reshape the insurance value chain, from hiring practices and actuarial modeling to customer service and communication.You can read the episode transcript on our website.

    34 min
See All (57)

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Objectivity matters. Today, more than ever. With no agenda, other than getting it right, Milliman’s Critical Point podcast takes a deep dive into subject matter that affects the health and well-being of people across the globe, from healthcare to retirement security, flood insurance to autonomous vehicles. Through a team of professionals ranging from actuaries to clinicians, technology specialists to economists, Critical Point examines the inherent challenges – and innovative solutions – that Milliman consultants encounter through their daily work around healthcare, employee benefits, risk management, technology, investment consulting, insurance, and financial services.

Information

  • Creator
    Milliman, Inc.
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Critical Point
  • Show Website
    Critical Point

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