Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults age 65 years and older who did not indicate Medicare coverage in HIMCARE or HICOVER, MCAREPROB reports responses to a probe question to verify Medicare status. Prior to 2019, MCAREPROB was asked of all persons age 65 years and older in families with no reported health insurance coverage.
In general, all persons over age 65 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and have either a) worked long enough (or whose spouse has worked long enough) to sufficiently contribute to Social Security, or b) contributed to Medicare payroll taxes qualify for Medicare.
Probe questions were included in the survey to reduce potential errors in reporting health insurance coverage.
Comparability
The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Availability
- 2006-2023
Weights
- 2006-2018 : PERWEIGHT
- 2019-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT
