Issue Briefs

HSAs: With an ever-increasing number of Americans gaining access to health savings accounts (HSAs) via their employment-based health plan, how much could they accumulate for health care expenses in these accounts? The answer depends on how much is contributed to the HSA—a tax-exempt trust or custodial account that an individual can open and use to pay his or her health care expenses—as well as how much is withdrawn, and what the investment return and fees on the HSA are, according to new research by EBRI. Press release.

IRAs: Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a vital component of U.S. retirement savings, representing approximately one-quarter of all retirement assets in the nation. But as a growing number of Americans head into retirement, how much are they withdrawing from these accounts—and will it last? Press release

EBRI Notes Jul 29, 2014 24 pages

While much has changed with health and retirement benefits during the past three decades—the first generation of the main federal law governing private-sector benefits, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)—many of the issues that were present at the founding of EBRI in 1978 remain with us today. EBRI Issue Brief Jul 24, 2014 24 pages

“Short” Falls: Will Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have enough money to live on when they retire, and if not, when will they run short? New modeling by EBRI finds that those in the lowest-income brackets are most likely to run short, many in the first year of retirement. But some in all income brackets—including the highest—may also run short at some point during their retirement.

HSA/HRA Consumer Engagement: Which type of health plan is more likely to get workers involved in their own health care: Health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements? The two account-based types of health insurance are similar, but a new report from EBRI finds that people with HSAs are more likely to engage in cost-conscious behavior related to use of health care services than are those in HRA.

EBRI Notes Jun 19, 2014 20 pages

A unique analysis by EBRI finds that balances of Roth IRAs grew at more than double the rate of traditional IRAs among a consistent set of individual retirement account (IRA) owners over the three-year period from 2010–2012. EBRI Issue Brief May 2, 2014 32 pages

Part-time Workers: Are concerns about the requirements of the new federal health insurance law causing more employers to shift to part-time workers? A new report by EBRI finds there is no definitive answer to that question yet—but notes that a shift to part-time employment was underway before the law was passed and that future trends are likely to depend more on factors such as the economy and unemployment rates. Press release.

DC Accounts: When workers leave or change jobs, what do they do with their old 401(k)? New research from EBRI finds that it largely depends on whether they retire or stay in the work force: Those who retire tend to take the money, while those who keep working most often leave it in their previous employer’s retirement plan. Press release.

EBRI Notes May 2, 2014 24 pages

Consumer-Driven Health Plans: Compared with those in traditional health plans, those in so-called "consumer-driven" health plans tend to have higher income, more education, and be in better health, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

Labor-force Participation: Older workers—those 55 and older—are a growing presence in the American work force, a trend driven mainly by women, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Apr 17, 2014 20 pages

Prescription Drug Use: Do consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) result in lower prescription drug use? New research from EBRI of one big employer finds that moving to an HSA-eligible plan reduced the number of both generic and brand-name prescriptions filled.

Lifetime Income Illustrations: Do consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) result in lower prescription drug use? New research from EBRI of one big employer finds that moving to an HSA-eligible plan reduced the number of both generic and brand-name prescriptions filled.

EBRI Notes Mar 24, 2014 16 pages

Americans’ confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement has recovered somewhat from the record lows of the past five years, according to EBRI’s 24th annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), but it does not appear to be founded on improved retirement preparations—and it may be limited to those with retirement plans. EBRI Issue Brief Mar 18, 2014 36 pages

Overall retirement income adequacy for Baby Boomers and Generation X households improved last year, though factors like age, income, and especially access to an employment-based 401(k)-type retirement plan, can produce significant individual differences, according to a new report by EBRI. EBRI Issue Brief Feb 13, 2014 32 pages

IRAs: Withdrawals from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) tend to be small and closely follow the rates dictated by the federal required minimum distribution (RMD) rules that apply to individuals age 70-1/2 or older, according to a new study by EBRI. Press release.

Health Accounts: Nearly three-quarters of workers (71 percent) with a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or health savings account (HSA) reported that their employers contributed to the account in 2013, according to a new report by EBRI. Press release.

EBRI Notes Feb 12, 2014 24 pages