Description

For persons who did not have health insurance coverage through Medicare, or private insurance coverage, HINOREXPEN indicates whether the person did not have insurance because it was too expensive or he or she could not afford it. Respondents were handed a card which listed reasons or could specify "other," and were asked to pick all that applied.

For 1976 to 1989, persons may have had coverage through other public programs, such as Medicare (1976) Medicaid (1976 and 1980) or military health care (1976-1989). For 1976 to 1996, individuals may have also been covered through the government programs Aid to Families with Dependent Children or received Supplemental Security Income.
This is because coverage through these programs were not asked about until later in the survey. For 1993 to 1996, individuals were asked about coverage through these public programs before being asked for a reason for "not having coverage" and thus are not in the universe. However, for 1993 to 1996, individuals could also indicate they had insurance through "some other health plan." Coverage refers to at the time of the survey, except for 1993 to 1996, when it is in the previous month. See the comparability tab for more details.

The definition of private health insurance remained fairly consistent, except for 1993 to 1996 when single service plans were considered a form of health insurance. Thus individuals with such plans are not in the universe for HINORDISS for these years. Users are strongly encouraged to review the user note on Private Insurance Definitions.

Comparability

Changes in the universe and the choice of responses available to respondents reduce comparability over time. For 1993 to 1996 those with single service insurance plans are not included in the universe (they were not asked reasons for no insurance). Individuals with such plans were considered to be covered by insurance. Prior to 1989, information on single service plans was not collected and these plans may have been rare.

For the years 1976 to 1989, the universe includes those who may have been covered through other forms of public assistance, such as Medicaid or military health care. This is because the question for "reason for no insurance" occurred before questions about coverage through these other programs in the survey. For example, for 1986 and 1989, some individuals who indicated unemployment as a reason for no insurance were also recorded to have insurance (HICOVR). Users should be careful when comparing with later years.

Because of coverage through other programs, HINOREXPEN is not comparable directly with variables for 1997 forward (such as HISTOP1) which indicates the respondent did not have coverage due to cost but lost his or her job or changed employer. Users who wish to compare HINOREXPEN with the surveys for 1997 forward should see the variable HINOCOSTR, which has been recoded to improve comparability over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1976, 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989, 1993-1996

Weights

• 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1994-1996 : PERWEIGHT
• 1983, 1993 : SAMPWEIGHT