Retiree health benefits are commonly offered by employers, as indicated by results of a 2007 survey conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Seventy-one percent of those who responded to the survey offer retiree health benefits to current and/or future retirees. Of the respondents that don’t offer the coverage, 25% never offered retiree health benefits, and 4% formerly provided retiree health benefits but no longer do. The survey, administered in July, is part of the Foundation’s Survey & Sample Series and is an attempt to gauge the prevalence of employer-offered retiree health care and summarize various funding approaches taken by employers. The 391 responses, from Foundation and ISCEBS members, represent corporations (51%), public employers (21%), multiemployer plans (15%) and professional service providers (13%). The 51 samples submitted by respondents include summary plan descriptions, plan documents and other employee communications.
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