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.
While the share of families with an individual account retirement plan is ticking down, the assets in those plans are going up, according to a new analysis by EBRI. Press release.
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.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.
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.
Health Plans: Who’s happier with their health plan—those in “traditional” managed care plans, or those in so-called “consumer-driven” and high-deductible plans? The latest data from EBRI show that the overall satisfaction rate among consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) enrollees is gradually increasing, while it is gradually decreasing among traditional enrollees.
Gen Xers: Are Gen Xers in worse shape than the Baby Boom generation when it comes to having enough money for retirement? Not if you take into account future contributions and the current trends in automatic plan design features, according to a new report by EBRI.
HSAs: With an ever-increasing number of Americans gaining access to health savings accounts (HSAs) via their employment-based health plan, how much could they accumulate for health care expenses in these accounts? The answer depends on how much is contributed to the HSA—a tax-exempt trust or custodial account that an individual can open and use to pay his or her health care expenses—as well as how much is withdrawn, and what the investment return and fees on the HSA are, according to new research by EBRI. Press release.
IRAs: Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a vital component of U.S. retirement savings, representing approximately one-quarter of all retirement assets in the nation. But as a growing number of Americans head into retirement, how much are they withdrawing from these accounts—and will it last? Press release
“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.
