2016 Issue Briefs

So-called “narrow provider networks,” which limit covered health providers in health plans, do not appear to be crossing over rapidly from the Affordable Care Act’s health exchanges into employment-based health plans, according to a new analysis by EBRI and Mark A. Hall, J.D., Wake Forest University, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Changes in Health Care Financing & Organization (HCFO) Initiative. EBRI Issue Brief Dec 14, 2016 20 pages

Balances in health savings accounts (HSAs) grew by more than a third in 2015, according to the most recent results from the EBRI HSA Database. EBRI Issue Brief Nov 29, 2016 28 pages

Well over one-half of all workers say they are not satisfied with the U.S. health care system as a whole, but are considerably more positive about their own health plan, according to new research by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Oct 19, 2016 12 pages

Employment-based health insurance is the primary source of health coverage in the United States, and as health plans continue to evolve, health plan sponsors continue to look for ways to get their workers more directly involved in their own health care. To highlight new work on how employers are trying to increase individuals’ involvement in health—and why it’s important—EBRI devoted part of its 78th policy forum in May to the topic of “Innovations in Employee Engagement in Health,” which is summarized in this article. Press release. EBRI Notes Aug 31, 2016 12 pages

Low-income workers who switch to high-deductible health savings accounts (HSAs) plans are more likely than their higher-paid colleagues to avoid certain types of health care, according to new research by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Aug 30, 2016 24 pages

In the wake of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), fewer small employers are offering health benefits to their workers, but big employers are holding steady, according to new findings by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Jul 28, 2016 8 pages

The share of both private-sector self-insured health plans and of covered workers in self-insured health plans have increased among small- and midsized firms since enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, according to new research from EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Jul 27, 2016 8 pages

Enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 had the effect of significantly increasing health coverage for historically uninsured groups in California, such as young adults, lower-income, Hispanics, and small-business and self-employed workers between 2013-2014, after key provisions took effect, according to new research by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Jul 26, 2016 8 pages

Although most American workers are satisfied with the health insurance benefits they have now, there is a long-term trend toward wanting more cash and fewer benefits, according to a new survey by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Mar 24, 2016 12 pages

Even though Congress recently enacted a two-year delay in the so-called “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), private-sector employers are already starting to prepare for it and some workers are already feeling its effects. To clarify what the tax would do and how employers and health-plan sponsors are reacting to it, EBRI held a policy forum on Dec. 10, 2015, attended by about a hundred health experts and other benefits professionals, to discuss “The Excise Tax on High-Cost Health Plans,” which is summarized here. Press release. EBRI Notes Mar 23, 2016 12 pages

Wellness Programs: Workplace wellness programs appear to have a bigger impact on medication adherence for some diseases than others, according to new research from EBRI. Press release.

Single/Couple Households: Older singles and older couples tend to face sharply different out-of-pocket expenses for non-recurring health care services such as home health care, nursing home stays, overnight hospital stays, and outpatient surgery—possibly because they do not have a spouse to help as caregivers, according to new research by EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Jan 21, 2016 16 pages