Employers have been reducing or eliminating retiree health benefits in order to cut back on expenses, even though coverage rates have remained primarily the same. However, co-pays, deductibles, and insurance premiums have been increasing at a faster pace than inflation. Retirees purchasing alternative coverage will find that they have less comprehensive coverage and pay more for it than they would through an employer. The trend of cutting retiree benefits may not stop if the economy continues to worsen. Retirees are older and tend to be in poorer health than other employees, which causes individually purchased insurance to be higher.