8M or 8G?

[Phil]

Should I take 8M or 8G? I'm capable of learning the material for either, but I have no work experience in either either. Is either easier in terms of competition?

I don't know either :) Thanks,
-Phil

[sock_man]

I took 8M simply because I had read more of the material already. However, it covers a lot of the Managed Care Handbook which I feel is horrible to read.

[Phil]

Worse than the dozens of SOA study notes for course 8G?

[sock_man]

If I had to do it over again, which fortunately I don't, I'd take 8G instead of 8M.

[josie]

I took 8M and passed on my second attempt. My work experience was in 8M so that is why I took it. I agree that the Managed Care Handbook is very dense and most of the 8M extension material is from there. I never looked at the 8G extension so I can't compare the exams. However, I would have to say that I probabaly spent more than 1/2 my time on learning the material from the Managed Care extension, despite the fact that the syllabus says the split is around 2/3 core and 1/3 extension.

I dreaded the Managed Care Handbook!

[Phil]

Thank you very much, sockman, josie, and cheezhobbit, for your responses to this query!

It sounds like the main problem with Managed Health Care Handbook it that it is much too detailed, but, so, I'll just skip all the details. How does the pure difficulty of the material compare between the two exams? 8G seems like a hodgepodge, but 8M seems more focused on one topic. Is that correct?

Thanks again,
-Phil

[josie]

The extension for 8M is focused on Managed Care, but it gets into things like running a Managed Care Organization. For instance, there is one chapter that is on Psychiatric Treatment in a Manged Care setting. It gets into the details like the best setting to treat the different stages of psychiatric or substance abuse problems. This is not something important for an Actuary to know even in a Managed Care Organization. The Manage Care Handbook gets very detailed and it is difficult to know what information is important to know and what is not. This is why 8M is difficult (though I am not sure how much more difficult than 8G).

[sock_man]

Well, if you are looking at it from a mathematical standpoint, neither is very difficult; however, if you are looking at it from ease of reading or ability to organize, I think 8G is superior. It just depends on what you find difficult. For most, the MC Handbook is just frustrating.

One piece of advice (if you take 8M), avoid the Actex on the MC handbook chapters... it is too detailed as well. Skim the chapters and create your own outline.

[Phil]

Thank you all for your advice.

However, I have chosen to ignore it. I will be taking 8M this October (and writing to people on the forum next year to tell them not to take it!)

I have no experience in either Group or Managed Care, and - I don't know why - but I like the Managed Care Handbook. He really explains things to me, in English. I hate Sutton&Sorbo with a passion, but luckily all their stuff is probably a duplicate of material from Managed Care Handbook.

Plus, Managed care handbook is even funny! Also, every other page has a historical graph or chart which will never be tested and you can skip, so reading it goes faster.

I like having too much information to read, rather than too little. This way I get a full understanding, plus I can choose the easiest 50% to write down in my notes. There is too much material in each chapter for the exam writers to expect you to write down during the exam, but they will give you credit for any items you are able to write down. So just pick the items you find easiest to remember. I think this is easier than a very small study note that has one list with 20 items, and you have to remember all 20 of those exact, particular items, or else you get no credit. I'd rather have a list of 40 items, and I can name any 20 of them I like.

I haven't taken this exam yet, so I haven't failed it yet, and I'm optimistic. I encourage other 8G/8M prospectives to try it.

-Phil

[Ponderer]

I am thinking of maybe taking course 5 and course 8 together in the fall, inspired by the people whose names showed up in the passing list of having passed both in the same sitting. I believe it's doable, but maybe at great sacrifice of personal life for 5 months.

I've just switched to health work for 2 months now so either 8G or 8M is new to me. Is 5/8G or 5/8M a better combination to take? What do you all think?

[josie]

I think most of those who passed 5 and 8 took 8P. I think 8P is only 1 1/2 hours. Therefore, my guess is that the material is much less than the material in 8M/8G. Still, passing 5 and 8P is a tremendous accomplishment.

Personally, the amount of material in 5 and 8M/8G is so much that I wouldn't even consider taking both. But, I am sure it can be done, so if you decide to go for it, good luck.

[gtopak]

I wonder if any of you have taken the review seminar for this course, given by Reynolds? Is it worth the time and money?

[josie]

I did not. I was seriously considering taking it, but when I asked about his seminar on this board, the response was overwhelmingly negative.