Most Poll Respondents say no Retiree Health Cuts

March 30, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - While more than three-quarters (77%) of companies polled do not expect to cut health care benefits to retirees in the next 12 months, 17% of financial executives do anticipate cutting benefits in the coming year, according to a news release.

The Grant Thornton news release said that t wo out of three (66%) finance executives also expect another double-digit increase in employee health care costs this year while 32% do not.

The outlook for workers is mixed, according to the announcement. Companies are about evenly split on hiring plans with 51% saying they will increase the rate of hiring in 2006 while 48% say their companies will not.

These are among the key findings from the Grant Thornton LLP Survey of Senior Finance Executives, which polled 122 chief financial officers and comptrollers at companies ranging in size from more than $2 billion in annual revenues to less than $50 million in annual revenues.

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