Critical Illness Data Trends in Middle East Health Insurance Markets

Background and Purpose

With the increased focus on healthcare treatment options through public and private healthcare providers in Middle East markets, critical illness and chronic illness products have gained stronger prominence as financial security product offerings from insurers. Recognizing data trends on the incidence and potential severity of claims can help the actuarial profession better understand product contingencies and provide valuable information on the importance of these coverages to raise awareness among public consumers.

Research Objective

The SOA Research Institute invites proposals for producing annual (at minimum) reports and trends on the incidence and severity of critical illness products across Middle East markets. Primary focus would be on markets such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with additional interest in other Middle East markets. This list is not exhaustive but represents key examples of markets that can be researched.

The research should gather claims information from key market insurers across a national market and provide aggregated experience analysis and trends. Additional emphasis should be placed on identifying trends that can educate the public about financial security risks, including:

• Trends in the causes of claim incidence
• Risks that drive claim severity
• Other information that contributes to a better understanding of critical illness risks and insurance coverage needs

Proposal Requirements

To facilitate the evaluation of proposals, the following information should be submitted:

1. Research Team Qualifications

   Provide resumes of the researcher(s), including any graduate student(s) expected to participate, describing how their background, education, and experience qualify them to undertake the research. If multiple researchers are involved, designate one individual as the lead researcher and primary contact. The person submitting the proposal must be authorized to speak on behalf of all researchers and the sponsoring firm or institution.

2. Research Approach

   Provide an outline of the proposed methodology (e.g., literature review, modeling approach, etc.), emphasizing issues requiring special consideration. Include details regarding techniques, supporting materials, and any anticipated limitations of the analysis.

3. Deliverables

   Describe the expected deliverables and any supporting data, tools, or resources that will be provided.

4. Budget Estimates

   Provide cost estimates for the research, including computer time, salaries, report preparation, material costs, and related expenses. Estimates may be presented as hourly rates if accompanied by estimated hours. Any guarantees regarding total project cost should be specified and will be considered during proposal evaluation.

   While project cost will be a factor in the evaluation process, it will not necessarily be the determining factor.

   As a guide for preparing the project budget, please review the Historical Project Cost Guide in the Appendix.

5. Project Schedule

   Provide a schedule for completion of the research, identifying key milestones, completion dates, and report submission timeframes. The SOA Research Institute seeks timely completion of this project, and proposals that include mechanisms to encourage timely delivery, such as fee adjustments, are encouraged.

6. Additional Qualifications

   Include any other factors that demonstrate the proposer's ability to successfully perform the work at a superior level.

Selection Process

The SOA Research Institute will appoint a Project Oversight Group (POG) to oversee the project. The POG is responsible for recommending the proposal to be funded. Input from other knowledgeable individuals may also be considered, but the POG will make the final recommendation, subject to approval by Society of Actuaries Research Institute leadership.

An SOA staff research actuary will provide actuarial support throughout the project.

Questions

Any questions regarding this Request for Proposals (RFP) should be directed to Research-HCCT@soa.org.

Notification of Intent to Submit Proposal

If you intend to submit a proposal, please email written notification by July 24, 2026 to Research-HCCT@soa.org.

Submission of Proposal

Please email your proposal to Research-HCCT@soa.org. Proposals must be received no later than August 10, 2026.

It is anticipated that all proposers will be informed of the status of their proposal by the end of August 2026.

Conditions

The selection of a proposal is conditional upon execution of a Letter of Agreement by both the Society of Actuaries Research Institute and the researcher. No selection is considered final until the agreement has been fully executed.

The Society of Actuaries Research Institute reserves the right not to award a contract for this research. Reasons may include, but are not limited to, a lack of acceptable proposals or insufficient available funding. The Society of Actuaries Research Institute also reserves the right to redirect the project if deemed advisable.

The Society of Actuaries Research Institute intends to retain copyright ownership of the research and to publish the results with appropriate credit given to the researcher(s).

The Society of Actuaries Research Institute may seek public exposure or media attention for the research. By submitting a proposal, researchers agree to cooperate with the Society of Actuaries Research Institute in publicizing or promoting the research and responding to media requests.

The Society of Actuaries may also market and promote the research to members, candidates, and other interested audiences. Researchers agree to participate in promotional activities requested by the SOA Research Institute, which may include:

• Leading a webcast on the research
• Presenting the research at an SOA meeting
• Writing an article about the research for an SOA newsletter

Conflict of Interest

You agree to disclose any material business, financial, or organizational interests and affiliations that are, or could reasonably be construed to be, related to the interests, activities, or programs of the Society of Actuaries Research Institute.

Appendix

The cost ranges below are intended as a guide for budgeting project costs for proposals submitted in response to an SOA Research Institute Request for Proposals (RFP).

These figures represent the 33rd to 66th percentile range of historical project costs and include projects that used a variety of research approaches, such as literature reviews and surveys. Actual project costs may fall outside these ranges depending on the scope of work and resources required.

All Contracted Projects

This category includes all contracted projects undertaken by the Institute in recent years.

33rd–66th Percentile Cost Range: $25,000 – $50,000