<p>A health actuarial internship is usually the first taste of the real world for people wanting to become actuaries. It&rsquo;s super helpful in the health field since you get to dive into healthcare data and learn about insurance products right there on the job. You&rsquo;ll typically find these internships at insurance companies, consulting firms, and other organizations during the summer, and sometimes they even have year-round co-op programs. In this guide, we&rsquo;ll show you where to look for health actuarial internships and what to expect from the experience. If you&rsquo;re a student or a recent grad looking to get into health actuarial work, this info will help you get ready and really make the most out of your internship.</p>
<h2>Where you can apply for health actuarial internships:</h2>
<h3>1. Major Health Insurance Companies:</h3>
<p>Big health insurance companies often have internship programs for aspiring actuaries. In the U.S., firms like UnitedHealth Group, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, and Humana bring on interns each summer. Usually, these internships run about 10 to 12 weeks and put you on teams handling areas like pricing, reserving, or analytics. Even regional companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield are on the lookout for interns. . Check their career pages or browse listings on <a href="https://www.actuarylist.com/sectors/health" class="link underline">ActuaryList</a>.</p>
<h3>2. Actuarial Consulting Firms:</h3>
<p>Companies like Milliman, Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Deloitte, PwC, and EY usually bring on interns for summer gigs. Interns might help figure out costs for Medicaid or look into reserves for health insurance companies. These internships give a great chance to see all kinds of health actuarial work in action.</p>
<h3>3. Internships in Government and Public Sector:</h3>
<p>Some places like the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services or CMS have internships that deal with health-related number crunching. You might also find opportunities in state insurance offices or Medicaid departments where they need help with regulations.</p>
<h3>4. International Opportunities:</h3>
<p>Look for roles at companies like Allianz, AXA, or Bupa, or explore global consulting firms with placements abroad. Use our platform <a href="https://www.actuarylist.com" class="link underline">ActuaryList</a> and filter for &ldquo;Internship&rdquo; under sector &ldquo;Health.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Tips for Applying:</h2>
<p>Get a head start because a lot of internships in the U.S. start looking for candidates almost a year ahead. Make sure to mention any exams you've passed (it's a good idea to have at least one), relevant classes you've taken like statistics or health systems, your tech skills like Excel, R, or SQL, and any leadership roles you've held. You can use our resource <a href="https://www.actuarylist.com" class="link underline">ActuaryList</a>, the SOA/CAS Internship Fairs, and events from your actuarial club to apply and connect with others.</p>
<h2>What You Can Expect in a Health Actuarial Internship:&nbsp;</h2>
<h3>1. Real Work and Projects:</h3>
<p>You'll get to work on real tasks like looking at claims data pricing models or figuring out how regulations affect things. Interns help out with writing memos or building Excel models and learn from experienced actuaries along the way.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>2. Mentorship and Training:</h3>
<p>Most companies pair you with a mentor who helps you learn their systems and breaks down stuff like insurance products, databases, and how actuarial models work.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>3. Team Collaboration:</h3>
<p>Interns join team meetings, work together on group projects and usually share what they learned at the end of the program. You&rsquo;ll definitely improve your communication and teamwork skills along the way.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>4. Tools and Software:</h3>
<p>You&rsquo;ll be working a lot with Excel and might also get to try out SQL, R, Python, or tools for pricing and reserving. Most interns end up leaving with better tech skills and hands-on experience dealing with real data.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>5. Work Environment:</h3>
<p>You can expect some companies to offer hybrid or remote work setups. A lot of them also host social or learning events where interns get to connect with execs or fellow interns.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>6. Learning Curve:</h3>
<p>The health field has a lot of shortcuts and fancy words, but don&rsquo;t worry you'll catch on as you go. Just ask questions and pay attention to the details.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>7. Feedback and Improvement:</h3>
<p>Companies usually do mid-term and final reviews. It's important to take their feedback to heart and keep improving during your internship. Show them what you can do because if you perform well, it could open the door for a full-time job offer.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>8. Networking and Exploration:</h3>
<p>Spend some time with different teams, ask questions, and chat with actuaries who work in pricing, reserving, and analytics. This will help you get a better feel for where you might fit in the long run.</p>
<h3>Conclusion and Next Steps:</h3>
<p>A health actuarial internship is a great way to kick off your career in this field. It&rsquo;s the perfect opportunity to learn the ropes and get some hands-on experience. Check out <a href="https://www.actuarylist.com" class="link underline">ActuaryList</a> to see the latest listings and don&rsquo;t wait too long to apply. Keep hitting the books for your next exam and work on your Excel or SQL skills. If you prepare well and have a good mindset, your internship could turn into a great full-time job in health actuarial science.</p>
<p><br /><br /><br /></p>

Discover top places to apply for health actuarial internships and what to expect on the job—from projects and mentorship to tools and full-time job offers.

Health Actuarial Internship Guide: Where to Apply and What to Look Forward To