Issue Briefs

Utilization Patterns and Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Different Health Care Services Among American Retirees

How do retirees spend their out-of-pocket money on health care in retirement? New research from EBRI separates recurring and non-recurring health-care services and finds that usage and expenses of recurring health-care services remain stable throughout retirement, while usage of non-recurring ones increase with age and tend to be more expensive. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 23, 2015 24 pages

“Employee Tenure Trends, 1983–2014” and “Views on Employment-Based Health Benefits: Findings from the 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey”

Tenure Trends: American workers are continuing to stay a bit longer in their jobs, according to new data from EBRI. The overall median tenure of workers—the midpoint of wage and salary workers’ length of employment in their current jobs—was slightly higher in 2014, at 5.5 years, compared with 5.0 years in 1983. Press release.

Views on Health Benefits: Most workers are satisfied with the health benefits they have now, but nearly one-third express interest in changing the current mix of benefits and wages offered by their employers, according to the latest findings from EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Feb 19, 2015 24 pages

Retirement Savings Shortfalls: Evidence from EBRI’s Retirement Security Projection Model®

How big is the retirement savings gap that most Americans are likely to face? New research from EBRI indicates it varies widely by gender, marital status and other factors, but the aggregate national retirement savings deficit is about $4.13 trillion for all U.S. households between age 25 and 64. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 17, 2015 28 pages

“Maximizing Contributions to an HSA: Findings from the EBRI HSA Database,” and “Debt of the Elderly and Near Elderly, 1992–2013”

HSAs: Who contributes the maximum amount to their health savings accounts (HSAs)? New research by EBRI finds that about 15 percent of HSA owners contributed the maximum amount possible in 2013. Press release.

Debt: A larger share of older American families had debt in 2013, and those with debt loads that are considered problematic also increased, according to a new report from EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Jan 29, 2015 24 pages

401(k) Plan Asset Allocation, Account Balances, and Loan Activity in 2013

The evolution of 401(k) plan designs has resulted in a significant increase in the use of balanced funds, including target-date funds, by recently hired 401(k) plan participants in 2013 compared with recently hired participants 15 years ago, according to a newly updated annual report by EBRI and ICI. EBRI Issue Brief Dec 18, 2014 56 pages

Individual Account Retirement Plans: An Analysis of the 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances

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.

EBRI Issue Brief Nov 20, 2014 28 pages

"Views on the Value of Voluntary Workplace Benefits: Findings from the 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey," and "The Gap Between Expected and Actual Retirement: Evidence From Longitudinal Data"

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.

EBRI Notes Nov 18, 2014 24 pages

“Amount of Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare: Good News Not So Rare Anymore,” and “IRA Asset Allocation, 2012, and Longitudinal Results, 2010-2012”

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.

EBRI Notes Oct 29, 2014 28 pages

Employment-Based Retirement Plan Participation: Geographic Differences and Trends, 2013

The percentage of workers who participate in an employment-based retirement plan increased in 2013 for the first time since 2010—both among all workers and private-sector workers, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release. EBRI Issue Brief Oct 27, 2014 48 pages

“How Does Household Expenditure Change With Age for Older Americans?” and “2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey: Most Workers Continue to be Satisfied With Their Own Health Plan, but Growing Number Give Low Ratings to Health Care Syste ..

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.

EBRI Notes Sep 18, 2014 20 pages