Supplemental Benefits Forum
St. Louis, Missouri • September 22–24, 2026
All times are CDT
Tuesday, September 22
11:00–11:50am – General Session
Landmark 4–7
Actuarial Professionalism in Supplemental Benefits: Applying Standards Where It Matters
Actuarial professionalism shows up in everyday decisions — how we apply standards, exercise judgment, and communicate uncertainty. This session offers practical perspectives on navigating common professionalism challenges while supporting sound business decisions and maintaining trust in actuarial work.
Speakers: Jeff Herzog, Director of Actuarial Services, UnitedHeathcare
Jimmy Weck, Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
12:30–12:45pm – NASBI Conference Welcome
Landmark 4–7
12:45–1:45pm – Keynote Session
Landmark 4–7
Leadership – Development of Staff in AI World
Join us for an insightful discussion with our keynote speaker around shifting workforce need, leaning into ‘soft skills’ as traditional roles incorporate more and more AI, and why the reasons for our supplemental products are more relevant than ever.
Speaker: Virgil Miller, President of Aflac Inc. & Aflac U.S.
1:45–2:00pm – Break
2:00–2:45pm – General session
Landmark 4–7
A Broker’s Perspective
This session features Kent Horsman with Lockton sharing his thoughts on the landscape of supplemental benefits past, present and future. He’ll discuss client needs, how carriers can respond to those needs and what buyers are looking for. Kent will also share the broker’s perspective of the future of the supplemental benefits space with the additional scrutiny on these plans.
Speaker: Kent Horsman, SVP – Benefits Technology & Voluntary Benefits, Lockton Companies
2:45–3:00pm – Break
3:00–3:45pm – Concurrent Sessions
Landmark 4–7
Beyond Medical Claims Data: Rethinking How We Drive VB Claim Integration
Many carriers believe medical claims data is the key to boosting VB claim submissions, but chasing medical records comes with integration, compliance, and delay hurdles. Let’s challenge that assumption by exploring alternative approaches for identifying claims opportunities by leveraging vendor partnerships and non-health claim data sets.
Speakers: Jeff Caldwell, Industry Expert
Janene Jonas, Director, Sales & Business Development, Milliman, Inc.
Landmark 1–3
Pardon the Insurance Interruption: Worksite Life Edition
Pardon the interruption – but the worksite life market has too many interesting topics for a slow traditional panel. In this “PTI”-inspired session, we’ll run a rapid-fire rundown of the most debated issues of the worksite life market, using a timer-driven format that keeps answers crisp, pointed, and actionable. The conversation is grounded in real worksite carrier questions and market intelligence including perspectives shaped by Milliman’s Worksite Life Survey and the speakers’ experiences.
Speakers: Bill Mehilos, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
Austin Rombalski, Executive Director & Actuary, Trustmark
3:45–4:00pm – Break
4:00–4:45pm – Concurrent Sessions
Landmark 4–7
Living Benefits to Life Insurance: LTC, Critical Illness, and Beyond
Most permanent life insurance products include some means of accessing benefits prior to death: terminal illness acceleration riders, accelerations for long-term care, and sometimes critical illness. Regulation and law dictate how most of these benefits may be sold. Explore the current landscape of these products, and hear how companies and compliance experts view the extent of the market.
Speakers: Nathan Berggoetz, SVP, Head of U.S. Individual Health, RGA
Cailyn Canty, Actuary & VP of Business Development and Strategy, Davies-Group
Robert Eaton, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
Landmark 1–3
Beyond the API Hype:
Using EDI, AI, and Real-Time Connectivity to Drive Voluntary Benefits Growth
The benefits industry has invested heavily in APIs and integration platforms, but real-time connectivity does not automatically produce better outcomes. Eligibility, payroll, enrollment, and claims data still move through a complex ecosystem of legacy systems, inconsistent formats, business rules, and operational processes. When those connections fail, the impact extends beyond technology costs to billing problems, claims errors, employee frustration, manual work, and lost trust. This session will examine how carriers, TPAs, and technology partners can make more deliberate decisions about EDI, APIs, and AI. The panel will explore where real-time connectivity creates meaningful value, where modernized EDI may be more practical, and how AI can improve mapping, validation, error reporting, and operational efficiency. Attendees will leave with a framework for evaluating the visible and hidden costs of connectivity and aligning technology investments with customer impact and voluntary benefits growth.
Speakers: Manish Mandelia, Principal & Managing Director, Milliman Connect
Jillian Mondaca, Head of Enrollment Technology Strategy & Delivery, MassMutual
Jake Sealey, Sr. Director, Client Enrollment Solutions, Daybright
5:30–6:30PM – Cocktail Hour
Washington Room
Wednesday, September 23
7:30–9:00am – Breakfast
Washington Room
9:00–9:45am – General Session
Landmark 4–7
Gateway to Growth: 2026 Survey Results for Supplemental Health
This session shares key findings from Milliman’s latest supplemental health market surveys and what the results reveal about the market today – what’s rising, what’s stalling, and what’s next. We’ll take the data beyond the Gateway, get to the heart of what’s driving decisions, and help you step up to the plate with confidence!
Speakers: Amanda DeSousa, AVP, Supplemental Health Product, Lincoln Financial
Jennifer Howard, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
Nate Sandrowicz, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
9:45–10:00am – Break
10:00–10:45AM – Concurrent Sessions
Landmark 4–7
Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About: The Employee’s Need for Enrollment Education and Communication
The goal is a successful enrollment, but how is this accomplished? How do the enrollment platform, the client and the carrier work together to provide guidance to employees so they are confident in their benefit decisions? Where does decision support come into play? Join this session for a discussion of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to benefit enrollment education and communication.
Speakers: Bryan Hawkins, Senior Product Director, Upwise – MetLife
Craig Rowe, GTEC Area Vice President, Gallagher
Landmark 1–3
Stepping Up to the Plate: Reproductive Health Across Life Stages
Family and reproductive health are reshaping expectations for supplemental health coverage. Join this session to learn how fertility and reproductive health journeys are helping employers deliver more inclusive and innovative competitive offerings.
Speakers: Scott Liebman, Senior Vice President, Progyny
Cally Myhrum, Founder & CEO, Lotus Fertility Insurance
10:45–11:00am – Break
11:00–12:15pM – General Session
Landmark 4–7
Through the Gateway: Navigating Today’s Legislative & Regulatory Landscape
Just as St. Louis serves as the Gateway to the West, this session opens the door to understanding today’s evolving legislative and regulatory environment. Join industry experts for a high-level look at federal and key state developments impacting life, disability and supplemental health insurance products. We’ll look at what’s changing and what’s coming next with an emphasis on practical awareness and forward-looking considerations.
Speaker: Steven Ferenczy, AVP – Paid Leave Policy & Implementation, ACLI
12:15–1:30pm – Lunch
Washington Room
1:30–2:15pM – General Session
Landmark 4–7
“But They Have It”: Managing State Objections and Competitive Comparisons
Carriers face growing frustration with inconsistent state approvals, unpredictable objections, and competitor filings that seem to get a pass on provisions your teams can’t get through. This session will explore practical strategies for navigating those disparities without burning bridges with regulators and while maintaining your credibility with peers in the marketplace.
Speakers: Taylor McKinnon, Principal and Compliance Consultant, Milliman, Inc.
Kimber Morrissey, Product Development Manager, Mutual of Omaha
Annie Register, Advertising, Enrollment, and Product Compliance, Aflac Group Insurance
2:15–2:30pm – Break
2:30–3:15pm – Concurrent Sessions
Landmark 4–7
Would You Underwrite That? Supplemental Health Decisions Beyond the Guidelines
Not every case fits neatly into the box. This interactive session focuses on underwriting gray areas that test experience, philosophy, and consistency. Attendees will vote on real underwriting case studies and compare approaches across the room, gaining insight into how peers balance guidelines, underwriting intent, and competitive realities in today’s environment.
Speakers: Lindsay Evans, Director Underwriting, West / Central Region, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual
Mary Johnson, Executive Director, Marketing Underwriting, U.S. Group Life, Accident and Disability Reinsurance
Landmark 4–7
Group Life & Disability: Connected Risks, Shared Outcomes
Group life and disability are tightly linked – by distribution, employer decision-making, and emerging experience trends – even when their models and metrics differ. This session examines where those linkages matter most, how recent experience is challenging traditional boundaries, and what life & disability leaders should be watching across the combined portfolio.
Speakers: Kevin Cranston, VP – Head of Product & Market Insights, Reliance Matrix
Scott Pushman, Life & Disability National Practice Leader, MetLife
3:15–3:30pm – Break
3:30–4:15pm – Concurrent Sessions
Landmark 4–7
Understanding AI in Benefits Service Delivery
AI assistants are becoming the new front line for benefits service, answering member questions in seconds instead of days. This session breaks down how these tools actually work, then walks through real chatbot conversations and the answers members get. We’ll close with a practical framework for deciding when to build AI capability in-house versus partner with a vendor, including the cost tradeoffs many carriers don’t see coming.
Speaker: Clint Cocagne, VP of Sales, Pasito
Landmark 1–3
Speak the Same Language: Real World Stories of Working with Actuaries and Underwriters
The names and places may have been changed, but these round-table discussions will share stories of misalignment among actuaries, underwriters, product, and marketing. We will problem-solve to determine what went wrong, what finally clicked, and what we wish we would have known earlier. The goal of this session is to have a better understanding of how to work together across disciplines that you can take with you to improve future interactions.
Speakers: Mike Hawksworth, VP & Actuary, Trustmark
Sally Sommerville, Executive Director, Group Underwriting, Trustmark
Becky Winters, VP Supplemental Health Products, Prudential
Jeanine Wright, Case Underwiter IV, Trustmark
4:15–4:30pm – Break
5:30pm – Milliman Outing
Thursday, September 24
7:30–9:00am – Breakfast
Mezzanine
9:00–9:45am – General Session
Landmark 4–7
At the Gateway: A Regulator Speaks on Emerging Trends, Legislative Direction, and Oversight Expectations
Drawing on insights gathered directly from state insurance regulators, legal and compliance regulatory experts will discuss areas of regulatory concern, industry challenges, and opportunities for greater alignment between regulators and insurers.
Speakers: Octavia Fuller, Director, Product Compliance, USAble Life
Kerri Picard, Director, Compliance | Benefits, Symetra Life Insurance
Matthew Wilson, Counsel, Securian
9:45–10:00am – Break
10:00–10:45am – General Session
Landmark 4–7
Cards vs. Cubs: The Great Debate in Supplemental Health Compliance
Is there a “GOAT” in supplemental health compliance? The same regulatory hot topics session you know and love but with a new format! This interactive session takes a debate-style approach to some of the most contested regulatory and compliance issues in the excepted benefit space. Using the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs rivalry as a backdrop, we’ll explore both sides of the argument on hot regulatory topics. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the trade-offs, compliance risks, and practical considerations on some key issues.
Speakers: Randy Beams, Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.
Christin Kuretich, VP Product, Trustmark
Taylor McKinnon, Principal & Compliance Consultant, Milliman, Inc.
10:45–11:00am – Break
11:00–11:45am – General Session
Landmark 4–7
Get Your AI Kicks on Route 66: The Road to Efficiency, Experience and Return
Join us to explore how AI is driving operational efficiency and reshaping the customer experience – and what it takes to deploy it responsibly while demonstrating real return on investment.
Speakers: Artsiom Basaraba, VP, Chief Product Owner, Digital Experience, Group Insurance, Prudential
Manish Mandelia, Principal & Managing Director, Milliman Connect
Christy Swain, Sr. Voluntary Product Lead, Lincoln Financial
11:45am–12:00pm – Closing Remarks
Landmark 4–7
12:00–12:50pm
Landmark 4–7
I Just Can’t Get Enough: Actuarial Bonus Session
This bonus session offers content that goes beyond the conference’s core agenda, giving actuaries a chance to step back from day‑to‑day technical topics and gain broader professional perspective. Designed as a value‑add roundtable experience, the session focuses on issues, insights, and real‑world observations that don’t always fit neatly into standard breakout sessions but meaningfully impact actuarial work and leadership.
Speakers: Matt Fleischman, Executive Director & Actuary, Trustmark Bill Mehilos, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Inc.