Issue Briefs

This new EBRI analysis quantifies how workers are likely to be affected by pension freezes, and how much they would have to save in a 401(k)—whether provided by their employer and/or saved by themselves—to offset the loss of accrued benefits from the pension freeze. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 8, 2006 20 pages

The Retirement Confidence Survey of College and University Faculty was conducted to better understand the retirement planning and saving behavior of college and university faculty, as well as to gauge perceptions regarding various aspects of their retirement preparations. Press release.  The analysis of retirement annuity and pension income for those over 50 notes that demographic factors remain key indicators, the gender gap closing, and annuity income streams disappearing.  EBRI Notes Mar 2, 2006 12 pages

This Issue Brief explores whether an old concept (benefit design) and a newer concept (evidence-based clinical information) can be more explicitly linked in order to better focus care on health improvement, and to discourage services and costs that do not result in improved health. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 16, 2006 16 pages

Four issues dominated the most recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) policy forum, which was devoted to the release of a ground-breaking nationwide survey of consumer-driven health plans and a discussion of the results. Press release. EBRI Notes Feb 2, 2006 12 pages

These two articles report current data on assets and trends in individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Keoghs (for the self-employed), and on the sources of income of the elderly (age 65 and Over). IRA press release. EBRI Notes Jan 16, 2006 16 pages

A new EBRI study shows the value of preserving lump-sum distributions from 401(k) and assets from other retirement plans when you switch jobs: “A significantly higher percentage of those who spent their lump-sum distributions entirely reported their standard of living (in retirement) as being somewhat or much worse than was reported by those who rolled over their entire distribution (24.5 percent compared with 16.2 percent),” the study says. EBRI Issue Brief Jan 10, 2006 44 pages

The first article shows how rising health costs are driving a shift in benefits, that health costs account for the bulk of voluntary employer-provided benefits, and that benefits take a growing share of total compensation. The second article notes that workers are increasing offered a lump-sum distribution of their retirement assets, and that while roll-overs are increasing, leakage from the retirement asset system is still significant. For Health Benefits Trends press release, click here.  For Lump-Sum Distributions press release, click here. EBRI Notes Dec 12, 2005 20 pages

Americans enrolled in a relatively new type of health coverage designed to make them more cost conscious are less satisfied with their health plan than those with comprehensive health insurance and are less likely to recommend the new plans to a friend or colleague, a ground-breaking nationwide survey. EBRI Issue Brief Dec 8, 2005 32 pages

This Issue Brief provides historic data through 2004 on the number and percentage of nonelderly individuals with and without health insurance. Based on EBRI estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), it reflects 2004 data. It also discusses trends in coverage for the 1994–2004 period and highlights characteristics that typically indicate whether an individual is insured. EBRI Issue Brief Nov 7, 2005 32 pages

Although battered by rising health care costs, a majority of Americans remain well satisfied with the quality of the care personally received in the last two years, the 2005 Health Confidence Survey (HCS) shows. But Americans tend to view cost as one of the least important factors when considering health care quality, the survey suggests. Press release EBRI Notes Nov 1, 2005 12 pages