In 1984, I begin supporting a direct response effort by JCPenney Life Insurance.  The primary cash cow policy was “Birthday Life”.   The consumer message was very clear; if you do not buy before this date, your premiums will be higher.  Thus, it was critical to have the date of birth (and gender) for each individual.

Or I might remark that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.".*

Recently, I read a promotional email from one of my favorite market research vendors. The email’s first message was about propensity models, one of my favorite tools. I wondered if they really have the sample sizes necessary to create accurate scoring; in my experience, it requires very large samples that most firms cannot afford or execute.

In 2020, as we are painfully aware, the consumer got to stay at home. They managed their households, taught school, and went to work in their PJs. For many, a typical day consisted of surfing the web for things to watch and things to buy.

Prior to Covid-19, we enjoyed the harmless concept of only 6 degrees of separation from another person.  Specifically, Kevin Bacon.  Interestingly enough, we also called it the “6 Handshake” rule.

Health insurance coverage is provided by several public and private sources in the United States.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation article** states that in 2020 there will be 3,148 Medicare Advantage plans offered in the US.