Description

For persons who had Medicare coverage and/or private insurance, MCPRIHS is a recoded variable indicating whether coverage provided through either insurance plan paid for surgical bills.

Interviewers provided a definition of Medicare to respondents (a Social Security health insurance program for disabled persons and for persons 65 years old and over). Respondents were then asked if the person had Medicare coverage.

Respondents were asked about private insurance coverage, which for 1980 to 1989, was any health insurance plan that paid for any part of a hospital, doctor or surgeons (or dentist's bill in 1986 and 1989), excluding single service plans, but including plans which paid for extra cash while hospitalized.

Comparability

Apart from changes in the universe, there are minor comparability issues noted below. Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the supplement was collected) may affect raw frequencies, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IPUMS NHIS weights.

In 1989, respondents were explicitly instructed to exclude single service plans in addition to plans which pay only for accidents. In other years, there was no explicit mention of single service plans, although prior to 1989, such plans were not common.

Universe

Availability

• 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989

Weights

• 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989 : PERWEIGHT
• 1983 : SAMPWEIGHT