Health Insurance Coverage and Costs at Older Ages: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study

Employer-sponsored retiree health insurance plays a crucial role in the health and income security of older adults. In recent years, however, employers appear to have cut back on retiree health benefits. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, this report examines the availability and cost of health insurance coverage at older ages. The results show that health insurance premiums for older Americans have soared in recent years, forcing older people to allocate more of their income to health care. As a result, the share of older people facing catastrophic health care costs has increased.This research was conducted for the AARP Public Policy Institute. Read the full report on the AARP website.