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
Interest in target-date and other types of balanced funds remained strong through 2014, with younger plan participants more likely to hold target-date funds than older participants, according to a new joint study released today by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI). EBRI Issue Brief Apr 28, 2016 80 pages
With the United States facing an estimated national retirement savings shortfall of $4.13 trillion, how can more Americans be brought into a retirement savings plan, and how can they be persuaded to save enough to cover expected costs in retirement? Those questions were explored by a panel of retirement experts at EBRI’s 77th policy forum held Dec. 10, 2015, focusing on policy proposals aimed at increasing private-sector retirement plan coverage and possible improvements to retirement plan designs by sponsors of retirement plans. Press release. EBRI Notes Apr 27, 2016 16 pages
Recent data show that, across the board, fewer American retirees say they are “very satisfied” with their retirements, while a growing number of retirees report that they are “not at all satisfied” with their retirements. Press release. EBRI Notes Apr 26, 2016 16 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
While overall confidence about being able to afford a comfortable retirement has plateaued among American workers, preparations to save for retirement are still lagging, according to the 2016 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) by EBRI and Greenwald & Associates. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 22, 2016 40 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
CPS: Estimates from the new and redesigned Current Population Survey (CPS) by the U.S. Census Bureau show a drop in the percentage of Americans who participate in a workplace retirement plan. However, the results raise doubts about the use of CPS data to assess current and future retirement plan coverage policies, according to a new analysis by EBRI. Press release.
Generational Views of Benefits: Compared to their older cohorts, Millennial workers are less interested and knowledgeable about their work place benefits, and prefer life insurance over health insurance, according to a new analysis by EBRI. Press release.
EBRI Notes Dec 17, 2015 28 pagesConsumer-driven health plans appear to be succeeding at getting people to pay attention to their health costs and behavior, according to new research by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Dec 15, 2015 28 pages
On average, households spend less once they retire—but not all households, and not in the same ways. New research from EBRI finds that while average spending in retirement falls in the first two years in retirement, nearly half of retired households actually spent more than they did just before retirement. That declines over time. EBRI Issue Brief Nov 19, 2015 20 pages
Benefits Survey: More than three-quarters of American workers say their workplace benefits package is important to their decision to take or reject a job, according to new research by EBRI and Greenwald & Associates. Press release.
DC Benefits: Private-sector retirement benefits have long been dominated by “defined contribution” plans funded primarily by workers’ own contributions. Private-sector health benefits are still funded primarily by employers, but that may be starting to change with the advent of “defined contribution” health plans. This has major implications for the American work force, the U.S. health care system, and even economic security in the nation, which were explored at EBRI’s 76th policy forum held in Washington this spring. Press release.
EBRI Notes Nov 18, 2015 28 pages
Retiree health savings: Projected savings targets needed to cover health care in retirement are going up again after several years of decline, according to new research by EBRI. This follows more recent declines during 2012-2014.
DB-DC: Does a traditional “defined benefit” pension provide greater retirement security than a “defined contribution” 401(k)-type plan? The complicated answer to that simple question depends on your salary level and the level of pre-retirement income to be replaced, according to a new analysis by EBRI.
EBRI Notes Oct 22, 2015 24 pagesMore working-age Americans had health insurance in last year due to an increase in individuals buying health coverage individually and the growth of publicly financed care such as Medicaid, according to a new report by EBRI. The rate of coverage through employment-based health plans was essentially flat. EBRI Issue Brief Oct 20, 2015 56 pages
WBS: Significantly fewer workers say they experienced health care cost increases in 2015 compared with previous years, according to new research by EBRI. Press release.
The average 401(k) account balance of workers who participated consistently in a 401(k) plan from year-end 2007 to year-end 2013 increased significantly between 2012 and 2013, according to an updated annual study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the Investment Company Institute (ICI). EBRI Issue Brief Sep 15, 2015 28 pages
Offering financial incentives to workers to participate in workplace wellness programs has a big impact on the programs’ success, according to new research by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Aug 26, 2015 24 pages
HSA Investment Options: Investment options in health savings accounts (HSAs) are a fairly new and not widely used option, but they tend to draw larger contributions and have higher balances where they do exist, according to a new analysis by EBRI.
Longevity Annuity Contracts: A recently authorized feature for 401(k) plans would allow workers to transform all or part of their retirement savings into a guaranteed stream of lifetime income, similar to what traditional pensions can provide. New modeling from EBRI finds this feature would be a significant help as a way to reduce their “longevity risk”—the risk of outliving their retirement savings—but only to those workers who can expect to have a long retirement.
EBRI Notes Aug 26, 2015 24 pages
IRAs: Relatively few owners of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are withdrawing money from them, and most of those who do are those over age 70-½ who are required by law to take a distribution from their Traditional IRA, according to new research by EBRI. Press release.
Satisfaction Gap: Individuals with health insurance continue to express higher satisfaction with traditional health plans compared with so-called “consumer-driven” plans, but the “satisfaction gap” appears to be narrowing, according to new research from EBRI. Press release
EBRI Notes Jul 16, 2015 24 pages
