Despite predictions the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) would cause private-sector employers to stop offering health coverage to their workers, the national “offer rate” is ticking up—possibly because of a healthy economy and low unemployment rates, according to new research by EBRI. EBRI Notes Aug 31, 2017 12 pages
EBRI Press Release August 31, 2017
The asset allocations of 401(k) retirement plan savers in their 20s at the end of 2015 differed significantly from the allocations of 401(k) participants in their 20s in the mid-1990s, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI). EBRI Press Release August 2017
EBRI Press Release Aug 3, 2017
The asset allocations of 401(k) retirement plan savers in their 20s at the end of 2015 differed significantly from the allocations of 401(k) participants in their 20s in the mid-1990s, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI). EBRI Issue Brief Aug 3, 2017 60 pages
For employers looking to drive more workers to sign up for HSA-eligible health plans, one of the biggest financial incentives they can offer is to reduce or even eliminate the annual premiums, according to new findings by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Jul 12, 2017 20 pages
The first-ever analysis of how health savings accounts (HSAs) are being used over time shows that most account owners use them more as specialized checking accounts rather than investment vehicles, according to new research by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Jul 11, 2017 24 pages
EBRI Press Release July 6, 2017
So-called “consumer-driven” health plans with high deductibles are continuing to gain market share in the United States, and are having the intended effect of making people more involved in their own health care, according to new findings by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief May 25, 2017 28 pages
Home equity and retirement accounts—401(k)-type plans and IRAs—account for nearly all the assets that many families have to depend on in retirement outside of Social Security and traditional pension plans, according to new research from EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes May 16, 2017 16 pages
There are major differences between younger millennial workers and their older Gen X and baby boomer colleagues when it comes to how they view and use health benefits, according to a new analysis by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Notes Apr 27, 2017 12 pages
Even though American workers are evenly split in their satisfaction levels with employer-provided benefits, the latest “value of benefits” by EBRI continues to find that companies offering benefits have a competitive advantage over those that do not. Press release. EBRI Notes Apr 18, 2017 12 pages
When workers are offered more than one health plan, who switches their plans, and does it lead to adverse selection, causing healthy workers to leave certain health plans saddled with only high-cost sick workers? Evidence suggests it’s mostly younger workers or higher-income workers without family coverage who switch?which does indeed raise the risk of adverse selection, according to a new analysis by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 23, 2017 24 pages
Many American workers today are feeling stressed about retirement and are not taking steps to prepare for it. And those feeling stressed have lower levels of retirement confidence and are less likely to feel financially secure, according to the 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) by EBRI and Greenwald & Associates. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 21, 2017 32 pages
With a new Congress and a new president in Washington, how are U.S. retirement policies likely to change? Possibly quite radically, and for two main reasons: First, because of the new majority’s plans to overhaul the entire U.S. tax structure and federal budget in ways that could fundamentally change how private-sector retirement plans are treated in the tax code. And second, because of the drive to simplify and lower income tax rates, tax-favored retirement provisions in the tax code are vulnerable. This article summarizes discussion of these issues at EBRI’s 79th policy forum in Washington last December. Press release. EBRI Notes Feb. 27, 2017 8 pages
Under President Trump, how, exactly, is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) likely to change, and how will this fundamental policy shift affect the U.S. health care and health insurance systems? The short answer, as the new administration was taking shape: Nobody knows. But whether it’s a “repeal and replace,” as many congressional Republicans have advocated ever since the law was enacted in 2010, or “repeal and delay” or “partial repeal” or “repair” (as some are now suggesting) or just “repeal,” it seems certain that change is on the way. This article summarizes discussion of these issues by a panel of experts at EBRI’s 79th policy forum held in Washington last December, and attended by more than a hundred people. Press release. EBRI Notes Feb 23, 2017 12 pages
Most discussion about retirement preparation revolves around national averages, but a lot could actually depend on where you live in retirement. A new study by EBRI finds large variations in spending by older households across the country. Press release.
EBRI Notes Feb 21, 2017 12 pages
Which groups of people prefer immediate annuities? A new analysis by EBRI finds that it’s those at the lowest and highest ends of the wealth spectrum, because those with inadequate assets might value a regular stream of income very highly and those with the most might expect to live longer and can also afford it even after leaving a bequest. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 8, 2017 20 pages
