Journal of Insurance Medicine

OBJECTIVE.—: To demonstrate a method which is being used to apportion between risk factors for occupationally related disease and compensate individuals with multiple risk factors. The application to individuals will be demonstrated for varicose veins. BACKGROUND.—: The National Insurance Institute (NII) is tasked with compensating work related injuries and illness in Israel. Population attributable fraction (PAF) has been utilized in order to estimate the amount of disease that can potentially be eliminated in a population through the elimination of individual risk factors...

Moral hazard is well known to life insurance underwriters and medical directors to increase the risk of adverse consequences to insured individuals. The underwriting investigation of proposed insureds at time of policy issue is done to ensure no likely moral hazard exists. However, not all situations involving moral hazard may be identified at time of underwriting and policy issue, and may only be identified at time of claim. Three cases that were underwritten for life expectancies in legal matters are described here as examples of moral hazard identified at time of severe injury and/or death...

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues into its 4th year, reports of long-term morbidity and mortality are now attracting attention. Recent studies suggest that Covid-19 survivors are at increased risk of common illnesses, such as myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and autoimmune disorders. Mortality may also be increased. This article will review the evidence that supports some of these observations and provide an opinion about their validity and their relevance to insured cohorts.

BACKGROUND: .-Laryngeal malignancy, "voice box" cancer, is uncommon with 12,620 estimated new cases and 3770 deaths in the United States in 2021,1 and represents only 6.2% of all respiratory system malignancies. The most significant risk factors are alcohol and tobacco consumption. Almost all cases (98%) of laryngeal cancer arise in the squamous epithelium, and in this analysis more than 75% are of well-or-moderately differentiated histopathology (Grades I&II). Local stage cancer (SEER Historic Staging) was more common than regional and distant stages combined (55...

BACKGROUND: .-Sinonasal malignancies are rare, aggressive, deadly and challenging tumors to diagnose and treat. Since 2000, age-adjusted incidence rates average less than 1 case per 100,000 per year, male and female combined, in the United States. For the entire cohort, 2000-2017, overall median age-onset was 62.6 years. Carcinoma constitutes over 90% of these upper respiratory cancers and most cases are advanced, more than 72% (regional or distant stage) when the diagnosis is made. Composite mortality at 5 years was 108 excess deaths/1000/year with a mortality ratio of 558%, and 41% of deaths occurred in this time frame...

Recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in cardiovascular medicine offer potential enhancements in diagnosis, prediction, treatment, and outcomes. This article aims to provide a basic understanding of AI enabled ECG technology. Specific conditions and findings will be discussed, followed by reviewing associated terminology and methodology. In the appendix, definitions of AUC versus accuracy are explained. The application of deep learning models enables detecting diseases from normal electrocardiograms at accuracy not previously achieved by technology or human experts...

Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) deep-learning models to screening for clinical conditions continue to evolve. Instances provided in this treatise include using a simple one-view PA chest radiograph to screen for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, and to assess mortality in asymptomatic persons with respiratory diseases. This technology incorporates hundreds of thousands of CXRs into a convoluted neural network and is generally named AI CXR. As an example, the AUROC (Area Under Receiving Operator Characteristic) of screening for T2DM was 0...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues into its 4th year, reports of long-term morbidity and mortality are now attracting attention. Recent studies suggest that Covid-19 survivors are at increased risk of common illnesses, such as myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and autoimmune disorders. Mortality may also be increased. This article will review the evidence that supports some of these observations and provide an opinion about their validity and their relevance to insured cohorts.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and its associated physical and mental conditions is the most prevalent congenital impairment causing developmental and intellectual disability worldwide. Like alcohol abuse, FASD is typically undiagnosed by primary care providers. And like alcohol abuse, life underwriters and medical directors need to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with FASD to accurately detect, identify, evaluate and assess the mortality risk. Three cases of suspected undiagnosed FASD that were underwritten for life expectancies in legal matters are discussed in this report...

OBJECTIVES: -This study seeks to quantify the mortality effect of low levels of body mass index (BMI) on life insurance applicants who, based on their laboratory profile and other information, appear to be suitable for life insurance coverage. BACKGROUND: -It has been demonstrated that low BMI is associated with higher mortality risk than normal or near-normal BMI. METHODS: -Data were collected from over 4.7 million life insurance applicants with available BMI tested between 1995 and 2021, and vital status was assessed via the Social Security Death Master File...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

A key-word search of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence in medicine, and artificial intelligence models was done in PubMed and Google Scholar yielded more than 100 articles that were reviewed for summation in this article.

The life insurance industry is transitioning towards precision underwriting driven by increased data availability and access to advanced analytical tools. Effectively utilizing diverse data sources in life insurance underwriting presents an opportunity for medical directors to fully leverage their skillset in this evolving environment. By navigating these changes, balancing the value of data against its limitations, and fostering collaborative approaches to enhance risk assessment and underwriting processes, medical directors can maintain a pivotal role in the life insurance companies of tomorrow...

Antiretroviral medications have substantially improved life expectancy for people with HIV. These medications are also highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition in people who do not have HIV, a strategy known as HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Despite these advances, some life and disability insurers continue to deny or limit coverage for people with HIV, and some have even refused to cover people who are using PrEP to protect themselves. These policies unfairly deny people with HIV, PrEP users, and their families the peace of mind and financial protection that can come with life and disability insurance coverage...

New-onset diabetes mellitus following COVID-19 infection has been frequently reported. This article will review the evidence that supports this observation and provide an opinion about its validity and relevance to insured cohorts.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.