AHRQ Stats: Retiree Health Coverage

Among private companies, 10.5 percent offered health insurance to retirees (age 65 and older) in 2013, down from 13.3 percent in 2003. About 3.8 million retirees were enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance in 2013, down from 5.6 million in 2003. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #453: Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance for Retirees in the Private Sector, 2003 to 2013.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #453:
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance for Retirees in the Private Sector, 2003 to 2013

October 2014

William A. Carroll, MA

Highlights

The percentage of private-sector establishments offering employer-sponsored health insurance to retirees 65 years old and older was 2.8 percentage points lower in 2013 than in 2003 (10.5 versus 13.3 percent).
The total number of retirees enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance declined by 1.83 million, from 5.61 million enrollees in 2003 to 3.78 million in 2013.
In 2013, establishments in utilities and transportation, and financial services and real estate offered health insurance to retirees at rates above the national average.
Also in 2013, establishments with half or more of their employees classified as low-wage were less likely to offer health insurance to retirees than establishments with less than half of their employees classified as low-wage.