Description

HIPOGOVR is a recoded variable created by the IPUMS NHIS staff, which indicates, for all persons with at least one private health insurance plan, whether the plan was paid for by a state, local, or community program. If the person selected "state or local or community" program from the options on a flashcard list, interviewers probed to determine whether coverage was through or paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP before recording the "state or local or community" government program category.

Most private insurance plans paid for by public funding are through Medicaid, Medicare, or SCHIP (see HIPCAIDR, HIPCARER, HIPCHIPR). Private insurance paid for by a government program (other than by these sources) may include premium assistance programs, in which state or local governments supply a premium subsidy that allows individuals to purchase coverage on the private market, rather than receiving direct coverage through the state's program.

Number of Private Plans Considered

Information was collected on up to four plans per family; for 2004 forward, only data on plans one and two are publicly available. Therefore, for 1997 to 2003, this variable indicates whether the respondent had any one of four plans paid for by such a state government program; for 2004 and forward, it indicates whether the respondent had any of two plans paid for by such a program.

Changes in the number of insurance plans considered should have relatively little effect on the results for HIPOGOVR.

For each private insurance plan, interviewers asked, "Who pays for this plan?" and handed out a card that listed various options. Respondents could pick all categories that applied.

Definition of Private Insurance

The definition of private insurance and the data collection process changed over time (see User Notes, "Changes in the Definition of Private Insurance" and "Changes in the Data Collection Process). For 1997 forward, the definition remained largely the same, and excluded single service plans.

Comparability

HIPOGOVR is largely comparable over time. The reduction in the number of plans for which data are publicly available should have little effect, given the rarity of persons with more than two private insurance plans.

As new insurance programs became available, slight changes were made to the response categories about who paid for the plans.

Data editing instituted for 1997 forward may improve the accuracy of HIPOGOVR and thus reduce its comparability with other insurance variables.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2018

Weights

• 1997-2018 : PERWEIGHT