title: Manufacturing firms' decisions regarding retiree health insurance.
abstract: The trend for employers to discontinue offering retiree health insurance has profound implications for a large and growing share of the U.S. older population. The authors explore factors related to the firm's decision to offer and contribute to retiree health insurance using data from manufacturing firms. Their findings indicate that while firm characteristics, such as size and age, affect the probability that a firm offers retiree health insurance, employer contributions to this benefit are significantly related to the firm's financial performance and the alternative insurance options available in the market. The article concludes with a brief discussion of policy-related measures with potentially important implications for the future of retiree health benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate, California State University at Northridge, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Alice M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zawacki
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement; D014481:United States