If respondents were unsure what an HMO was, interviewers provided a definition for them. The definition described HMOs and Individual Practice Associations (IPAs) as plans that provide members a network of providers, and generally require members to use only those health care providers within the network. Generally, members do not have to submit claims for costs of medical care services. An HMO directly provides its members with most or all of their health care, while traditional health insurers simply process claims.

Please use the IPUMS NHIS drop down menu and search functions for other related variables.

Data Collection Process
Details about the characteristics of insurance plans (such as HI1HMOR) reflect plans for any family member in the household. 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 four private plans. Thus, information about participation in an HMO through the family's private insurance plan(s) may appear in multiple variables: HI1HMO, HI2HMO, HI3HMO, and HI4HMO. Likewise, the complementary variables HI1PCOV, HI2PCOV, HI3PCOV, and HI4PCOV indicate coverage status for the individual under each plan.