Employer-Provided Health Benefits among Middle-Aged Americans: Coverage Patternsand Transitions

摘要

This report analyzes recent data from the first two waves of the Health andRetirement Study to evaluate the prevalence of different types of health insurance coverage, characteristics of different plan types, and changes in coverage among individuals approaching retirement age. Overall rates of coverage are quite high among the middle-age, but the risk of non-coverage is also high within many disadvantaged groups, including Hispanics, low-wage earners, and those in poor health. Managed care plans are widespread, enrolling 57 percent of individuals with health benefits; participation rates are especially high in the West and among blacks, high wage earners, and workers in large firms. Within the sample analyzed here, coverage rates for all types of health insurance have increased over the past two years. However, 40 percent of respondents report that the cost of their coverage has increased during this period. Although it is an important employee benefit, health insurance does impose some costs on most workers.