The problem of how to pay the increasingly costly medical bills of retired Americans is rapidly rising as a national priority, not just among policymakers, but also among the general public. As a result, deeper thinking within the health policy community on two broad issues is taking place: How...

The new Medicare drug law that was enacted in late 2003 makes two changes that supporters of the law say should make it easier for today's workers to prepare to pay the medical bills they will confront in retirement: prescription drug benefits (the new Medicare Part D) and health savings...

This paper examines the impact of plan type, medical homes, and income on use of health care services. It also examines differences in the use of health services within the CDHP population. Data from the 2005-2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey and the 2008-2012...

This paper examines the savings needed to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement and evaluates the use of health savings accounts (HSAs) to save for those expenses. Proponents of HSAs often tout them as a vehicle for funding future...

This paper examines the impact of plan type, health status, and income on the use of health care services. It also examines differences in the use of health services within the CDHP population. Data from the 2005-2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey and the 2008-2011...

This paper examines satisfaction with various aspects of health care by type of health plan among three groups of health-plan enrollees: those with a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP), those with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), and those with traditional coverage. The findings presented...

This paper presents results from the 2010 Health Confidence Survey (HCS), the 13th wave of an annual survey to assess the attitudes of the American public regarding the health care system in the United States. While confidence regarding various aspects of today’s health care system is not...

This paper explores differences in choice of health plan using data from the 2009 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey. It examines the likelihood of having a choice of plan by various demographics and work-related variables. It also examines choice by health status and health...

This paper presents findings from the 2009 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, which provides nationally representative data regarding the growth of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), and the impact of these plans and consumer...