Issue Briefs

The Impact of the Recession on Employment-Based Health Coverage

Not surprisingly, the percentage of the nonelderly (under age 65) without employment-based health insurance coverage has grown during the recession, according to a study published today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). But in addition, for those who still have employment-based health insurance, deductibles and co-payments for office visits also have increased. EBRI Issue Brief May 4, 2010 24 pages

The Impact of Automatic Enrollment in 401(k) Plans on Future Retirement Accumulations: A Simulation Study Based on Plan Design Modifications of Large Plan Sponsors

New research from the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds that auto-enrollment of participants in 401(k) plans is likely to be most beneficial to young and low-income workers, although high-income workers are likely to benefit from it as well. It also confirms earlier results that large employers adopting auto-enrollment have significantly increased the employer “match” to their workers’ own 401(k) contributions. EBRI Issue Brief Apr 1, 2010 24 pages

'The Use of Health Savings Accounts for Health Care in Retirement,' and'Tax Expenditures and Employee Benefits: Estimates from the FY 2011 Budget'

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are likely to play a minor part in savings for health care costs in retirement, according to a report issued by EBRI. That’s because both statutory contribution limits and currently low interest rates constrain the amount HSAs are able to generate, compared with the large amount needed to pay for retiree health expenses. Press release EBRI Notes Apr 1, 2010 12 pages

‘Employment Status of Workers Ages 55 or Older, 1987-2008’ and ‘Tracking Health Insurance Coverage by Month: Trends in Employment-Based Coverage Among Workers, and Access to Coverage Among Uninsured Workers’

Reflecting the changing economic landscape, more older workers are staying in the work force, but increasingly in part-time rather than full-time jobs, according to new research released by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Mar 16, 2010 16 pages

The 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey: Confidence Stabilizing, But Preparations Continue to Erode

Americans’ confidence in their ability to retire appears to be stabilizing, now that the economic volatility of the recession has abated, but their self-described preparations for retirement continue to erode, according to the 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) released by EBRI and Mathew Greenwald and Associates. However, the RCS also finds that a growing number of American workers are also planning to delay retirement—which has negative implications for the U.S. job market, where unemployment is high and layoffs continue to grow. As older workers stay at their jobs longer, the RCS results suggest that fewer existing jobs are likely to open up. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 9, 2010 44 pages

'Choice of Health Plan: Findings from the 2009 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey,' and 'Labor Force Participation Rates: The Population Age 55 and Older, 2008'

The labor-force participation rate is increasing for older Americans (those age 55 and older) as older workers are faced with higher health costs and economic losses, according to a new study published by EBRI. Press release EBRI Notes Feb 18, 2010 20 pages

Employers, Workers, and the Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits

Since the vast majority of Americans who have health coverage get it through their jobs, one obvious question raised by the health reform legislation pending in Congress is: How might it affect the U.S. employment-based health benefits system? At a recent day-long conference sponsored by EBRI, more than a dozen experts from a wide range of specialties found consensus on one point: Imposing a tax on health benefits (such as the proposed tax on so-called “Cadillac” health plans) is likely to cause major cuts in health benefits and might result in structural changes in the employment-based benefits system. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 16, 2010 24 pages

'Employee Tenure, 2008,' and 'Retiree Health Benefit Trends Among the Medicare-Eligible Population'

The romantic Ozzie and Harriet-era notion of a worker spending a lifetime with a single employer and then retiring with the proverbial gold watch is just that—a romantic notion. Career jobs never existed for most workers, and still do not, according to a study released today by EBRI. Press release EBRI Notes Jan 7, 2010 20 pages

Implications of Health Reform for Retiree Health Benefits

Health insurance reform legislation pending in Congress would have a mixed impact on retiree health benefits, according to a study published today by EBRI. In the short term, some provisions of the legislation would help bolster early retiree coverage, while in the longer term other provisions could create significant incentives for employers to drop retiree coverage. EBRI Issue Brief Jan 1, 2010 20 pages

'Investment Behavior of Target-Date Fund Users Having Other Funds in 401(k) Plan Accounts,' and 'What Do We Know About Enrollment in Consumer-Driven Health Plans?'

Some investors in target-date funds, a rapidly growing option in 401(k) retirement plans, apparently do not understand the purpose of the funds and could end up with a potentially inferior portfolio in terms of risk/return tradeoff, according to a new study by EBRI. Press release EBRI Notes Dec 3, 2009 16 pages