Today is the start of 2020, and the start of the 2020s. It's also 100 years after the start of New Year's Day in 1920 — a year that's much different from our own, yet hauntingly similar, and which is well-represented in various online digital archives, such as the Google Books and Newspapers.com databases. (Related: 10 Titanium Life, Health and Annuity Stars: 2019 Generations Lists) Here's a look at what life, health and annuity news was hot in 2019; what was hot in a sister publication, LifeandHealthInsuranceNews.com, in January 2010; and what seems to have been hot in insurance and business publications in January 1920.

1.  2019

Here are the five most-viewed life, health and annuity news articles of the year. One obvious conclusion: Our readers are interested in annuities and taxes, and keenly interested in Medicare.

1. 10 Worst States for Medicare Advantage Sticker Shock

Nov. 7

In some states, Medicare Advantage premiums may be comparable to worker contributions for health coverage.

2. 2020 Medicare Premium Hike Could Wipe Out Social Security COLA for Many Retirees

May 1

The Senior Citizens League is forecasting a 6.5% jump in the 2020 Medicare Part B premium.

3. The NAIC's Top 7 U.S. Annuity Issuers of 2018

March 5

Overall annuity considerations increased 12%. Smaller players grew more than the gorillas.

4. Life Insurance Is NOT a Financial Service: New IRS 199A Tax Deduction Regs

Jan. 22

The new regulation should help insurance agents get a new 20% business income deduction.

5. Medicare Part B Premium to Rise 6.7%

Nov. 8

Officials say the increase is due to the cost of physician-administered drugs.

2. 2010

We've posted links to three of the top articles from 10 years ago in the slideshow above. A review of the list shows that readers were especially interested in:

  • The long-term care benefits program provisions in the Affordable Care Act.
  • The effects of the Great Recession on American International Group Inc.
  • California's efforts to keep life insurers from making investments with connections to Iran.

3. 1920

A look at the headlines from the Jan. 1, 1920, issue of the Life Insurance Courant shows that people in the life insurance community were:

  • Thrilled with 1919 sales.
  • Looking to see which life insurers had to cut dividend payment rates because of the effects of the horrifying 1918 influenza pandemic on capital and surplus.
  • Talking about efforts to support the YMCA's upcoming National Thrift Week public awareness campaign.
Life insurers also had a strong underlying interest in coping with tuberculosis, and they often mentioned government programs for soldiers and World War I veterans when discussing ideas improving commercial insurance and pension programs. — Read The Year 2020, for Agents, on ThinkAdvisor. — Connect with ThinkAdvisor Life/Health on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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