“Short” Falls: Will Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have enough money to live on when they retire, and if not, when will they run short? New modeling by EBRI finds that those in the lowest-income brackets are most likely to run short, many in the first year of retirement. But some in all income brackets—including the highest—may also run short at some point during their retirement.
HSA/HRA Consumer Engagement: Which type of health plan is more likely to get workers involved in their own health care: Health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements? The two account-based types of health insurance are similar, but a new report from EBRI finds that people with HSAs are more likely to engage in cost-conscious behavior related to use of health care services than are those in HRA.
Part-time Workers: Are concerns about the requirements of the new federal health insurance law causing more employers to shift to part-time workers? A new report by EBRI finds there is no definitive answer to that question yet—but notes that a shift to part-time employment was underway before the law was passed and that future trends are likely to depend more on factors such as the economy and unemployment rates. Press release.
DC Accounts: When workers leave or change jobs, what do they do with their old 401(k)? New research from EBRI finds that it largely depends on whether they retire or stay in the work force: Those who retire tend to take the money, while those who keep working most often leave it in their previous employer’s retirement plan. Press release.
Consumer-Driven Health Plans: Compared with those in traditional health plans, those in so-called "consumer-driven" health plans tend to have higher income, more education, and be in better health, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.
Labor-force Participation: Older workers—those 55 and older—are a growing presence in the American work force, a trend driven mainly by women, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.
Prescription Drug Use: Do consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) result in lower prescription drug use? New research from EBRI of one big employer finds that moving to an HSA-eligible plan reduced the number of both generic and brand-name prescriptions filled.
Lifetime Income Illustrations: Do consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) result in lower prescription drug use? New research from EBRI of one big employer finds that moving to an HSA-eligible plan reduced the number of both generic and brand-name prescriptions filled.
IRAs: Withdrawals from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) tend to be small and closely follow the rates dictated by the federal required minimum distribution (RMD) rules that apply to individuals age 70-1/2 or older, according to a new study by EBRI. Press release.
Health Accounts: Nearly three-quarters of workers (71 percent) with a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or health savings account (HSA) reported that their employers contributed to the account in 2013, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.
Spousal Health Coverage: Companies looking to save health costs by requiring working spouses to get health insurance through their own employer find the move has some unexpected consequences, according to a new study by EBRI. Press release.
Social Security and 401(k) Savings: Current levels of Social Security benefits, coupled with at least 30 years of 401(k) savings eligibility, could provide most workers with an annual income of at least 60 percent of their preretirement pay on an inflation-adjusted basis, according to a new analysis by EBRI. Press release.