This document synthesizes highlights of recent EBRI research on retirement and health issues. It also provides general background information on the finances of the U.S. employment-based retirement system; lists public opinion surveys conducted by EBRI; and cites numerous other benefit-related...

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...

When Medicare was enacted in 1965 it was financed in a manner similar to Social Security. Workers and employers were required to pay the same tax rate for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), up to the Social Security wage base, and beneficiaries paid the same premium for Medicare Part B...

This paper reports findings of the 15th annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), which points to potential solutions to the American retirement savings problem, specifically ways that could help workers save more through their employment-based retirement plans. The RCS again finds that a...

This paper updates earlier modeling by EBRI on the level of savings needed for health care expenses in retirement. Some prior estimates have been significantly revised down as a result of changes to Medicare Part D cost sharing that will be phased in by 2020 due to recently enacted health...

This paper updates earlier EBRI research on estimated savings needed to cover health insurance to supplement Medicare and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement. It finds that men retiring at age 65 in 2009 will need anywhere from $68,000 to $173,000 in savings to cover...

This Issue Brief presents estimates of how much money a person will need to save to completely pay for health insurance and out-of-pocket health care costs during retirement. The combination of the erosion of employment-based retiree health benefits and limited benefits from Medicare and Medigap...