Ninety-four percent of active workers employed by public employers are currently on track to be eligible for retiree health benefits after they retire and become eligible for Medicare, compared with 58 percent at midsize private firms, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s newly released Survey of Retiree Health Benefits, 2005: A Chartbook.
Among other survey findings:
• The percentage of U.S. firms offering retiree health benefits has remained constant between 2000 and 2006. Offer rates for large firms (200+ workers) are far higher than those for small firms (3-199 workers), at 35 percent versus 9 percent.
• Monthly premiums for Medicare-age retirees averaged $318 for midsize private firms and $320 for public employers. These premiums increased 9 percent for midsize private firms from 2004 to 2005, and 5 percent for public employers.
• Medicare-age retirees from midsize private firms contributed an average of $76 monthly toward premiums, compared with $116 for retirees from public employers.
