Description

For persons in families with at least one private insurance plan, HI1DENT indicates whether the plan paid for any dental services other than oral surgery.

In order to determine if the person (rather than someone else in the family) was covered by this plan, analysts should use the variable HI1PCOV (Health Insurance Plan 1: Person's Coverage Status), which indicates whether the person was covered by the plan.

Users are strongly encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection and Private Insurance Definitions.

Information was collected on up to five private plans in most years.

Users may prefer to use the constructed variable HIPDENTCOVR, which was created by the IPUMS NHIS staff and which summarizes dental coverage for each individual across all private insurance plans.

Comparability

This variable is not fully comparable over time. In 1986, respondents were not explicitly told to exclude single service plans. In contrast, for 1989, respondents were explicitly told to exclude single service plans, and dental coverage had to be part of a comprehensive plan. Thus it is possible that in 1986, persons with single service plans for dental coverage were considered to have private insurance and were included in the universe, whereas for 1989, persons with only single service plans for dental services would have been excluded.

Universe

Availability

• 1986, 1989

Weights

• 1986, 1989 : PERWEIGHT