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Utilization Patterns and Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Different Health Care Services Among American Retirees

How do retirees spend their out-of-pocket money on health care in retirement? New research from EBRI separates recurring and non-recurring health-care services and finds that usage and expenses of recurring health-care services remain stable throughout retirement, while usage of non-recurring ones increase with age and tend to be more expensive. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 23, 2015 24 pages

“Employee Tenure Trends, 1983–2014” and “Views on Employment-Based Health Benefits: Findings from the 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey”

Tenure Trends: American workers are continuing to stay a bit longer in their jobs, according to new data from EBRI. The overall median tenure of workers—the midpoint of wage and salary workers’ length of employment in their current jobs—was slightly higher in 2014, at 5.5 years, compared with 5.0 years in 1983. Press release.

Views on Health Benefits: Most workers are satisfied with the health benefits they have now, but nearly one-third express interest in changing the current mix of benefits and wages offered by their employers, according to the latest findings from EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Feb 19, 2015 24 pages

“Maximizing Contributions to an HSA: Findings from the EBRI HSA Database,” and “Debt of the Elderly and Near Elderly, 1992–2013”

HSAs: Who contributes the maximum amount to their health savings accounts (HSAs)? New research by EBRI finds that about 15 percent of HSA owners contributed the maximum amount possible in 2013. Press release.

Debt: A larger share of older American families had debt in 2013, and those with debt loads that are considered problematic also increased, according to a new report from EBRI. Press release. 

EBRI Notes Jan 29, 2015 24 pages

“What to Expect During Open-Enrollment Season: Findings From the SHRM/EBRI 2014 Health Benefits Survey,” and “History of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, Part 1”

Open Enrollment: Few employers plan to eliminate or make major changes in their health care benefits in the near future—but changes are inevitable, especially the growth of wellness programs designed to address worker risks and behaviors, which drive chronic conditions, and account for a large percentage of overall spending, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release

History of EBRI: This is the first part of a history of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), which was created 37 years ago.

EBRI Notes Dec 16, 2014 16 pages

"Views on the Value of Voluntary Workplace Benefits: Findings from the 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey," and "The Gap Between Expected and Actual Retirement: Evidence From Longitudinal Data"

Retiree health savings: The vast majority of workers say their benefits package is important to their decision to take a job, as supported by the high take-up rates when benefits are offered, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

Retirement gap: Among the victims of the "Great Recession" of 2008?2009 was the retirement expectations of many Americans. New research from EBRI has quantified just how much those hopes suffered. Press release.

EBRI Notes Nov 18, 2014 24 pages

“Amount of Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare: Good News Not So Rare Anymore,” and “IRA Asset Allocation, 2012, and Longitudinal Results, 2010-2012”

Projected savings targets: American elderly need to cover their health care costs in retirement continue to decline, due in part to enhanced prescription drug coverage provided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), according to new modeling by EBRI. Press release.

IRAs: Almost 60 percent of individual retirement account (IRA) owners have their savings in an “extreme” investment allocation in 2012, meaning less than 10 percent or more than 90 percent in a particular investment category, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.  

EBRI Notes Oct 29, 2014 28 pages

“How Does Household Expenditure Change With Age for Older Americans?” and “2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey: Most Workers Continue to be Satisfied With Their Own Health Plan, but Growing Number Give Low Ratings to Health Care Syste ..

Older Americans: Although health expenses increase steadily with age, and remain a cause of concern, home and home-related expenses are the largest spending category for older Americans, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

Workplace Benefits Survey: Although American workers rank their own health care highly, their opinion of the overall U.S. health care system is low and continues to fall, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Sep 18, 2014 20 pages

Quality of Health Care After Adopting a Full-Replacement, High-Deductible Health Plan With a Health Savings Account: A Five-Year Study

With an ever-growing number of workers covered by health savings account (HSA)-eligible health plans, how does use of health care services used to measure quality compare with traditional managed care? New research from EBRI finds a mixed bag: Depending on the health care service, HSA-plans could result in higher or lower use, and in some cases no change whatsoever. EBRI Issue Brief Sep 16, 2014 20 pages