tailieunhanh - Health Insurance Coverage of the Near Elderly, 1994−2005

While there appears to be a rising incidence of problem drinking in the elderly, there are also reports that low risk drinking may provide benefits to older populations. Indeed. arguably most of the supposed benefits of alcohol consumption are to be found in older people. So, for example, the claimed protective effect of alcohol in regard to cardiovascular disease applies to the late middle aged and elderly. For this reason, the recommended optimum level of alcohol consumption for health is higher for the elderly than the young. (See IAS factsheet Alcohol – what is problem drinking?) As well as medical benefits, there are also reports that low. | EBRI Employee Benefit Research NOTES Institute January 2007 Vol. 28 No. 1 Health Insurance Coverage of the Near Elderly 1994-2005 p. 2 IRA Assets Contributions and Market Share p. 8 Executive Summary Health Insurance Coverage of the Near Elderly 1994-2005 Least likely to be uninsured Adults ages 55-64 the near elderly were one of two groups the other was children most likely to have health insurance coverage in 2005. That year percent of adults ages 55-64 were uninsured compared with percent of adults 21-24 percent of those ages 25-34 and 25 percent of younger adults. Near elderly uninsured likely to grow in the future However future retired adults ages 55-64 may experience an increase in the likelihood of being uninsured if employer cutbacks to retiree health benefits affect them and they have no other means of obtaining health insurance. Also the size of the uninsured population ages 55-64 will also grow as the baby boom generation ages. Benefits erosion Medicare costs a growing concern The erosion of retiree health insurance may ultimately change retirement patterns as employees nearing retirement age postpone their decision to retire upon learning that without a job they may not be able to obtain health insurance coverage or afford health care services that are not covered by insurance. The health insurance status of the population nearly eligible for Medicare also has implications for Medicare since a growing uninsured population entering the program will result in higher costs. IRA Assets Contributions and Market Share IRAs biggest share of private-sector retirement assets Individual retirement account IRA assets surpass those held in either private-sector defined contribution plans typically 401 k -type plans or defined benefit plans pensions and are likely to become the single largest source of retirement assets outside of Social Security for private-sector workers in retirement. In 2005 IRA assets increased to a new high of trillion. .