July 19, 2007 -- The Commonwealth Fund and the Center for Studying Health System Change released a chartbook today that summarizes the state of retiree health coverage in the United States.  The publication is available for download at the Commonwealth Fund site. 

NORC senior fellow Jon Gabel, along with colleagues Heidi Whitmore and Jeremy Pickreign, authored the report, analyzing data from a 2005 survey of public and private firms that offer health coverage to their employees.  The report provides answers to such questions as:

• What percentage of U.S. companies offer retiree health benefits?
• How have public and private employers responded to enactment of Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits?
• How does the size of plan deductibles vary for Medicare-age retirees?
• Do employers plan to continue offering the same level of retiree coverage in the future?
• What percentage of firms are planning to increase retired workers' share of insurance premiums?