Codes and Frequencies
Description
For persons who did not have private health insurance coverage, this variable indicates whether the person did not have private insurance because they were covered through Military healthcare. Persons were handed a card which listed reasons, including "covered by some other health plan", and were asked to pick all that applied. For 1982 forward, military health care (CHAMPUS or VA care) was not a reason listed on the card, but if respondents mentioned having such coverage, they were categorized as covered by some other plan. The NHCS then recoded all persons with Military care to HINORMILIT.
Please use the IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus and search function for related variables.
Comparability
Apart from changes in the universe, this variable is comparable over time. 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 IHIS weights.
For all years, persons were told not to consider plans which pay only for accidents as private insurance. For 1989, other single service plans were also specifically excluded.
Users should not compare this variable with variables for reasons for no insurance for 1997 forward.
Because persons in the universe for HINORMILIT may have had coverage through other programs, HINORMILIT is not comparable directly with variables for 1997 forward (such as HISTOP15, which indicates the respondent had no insurance because they lost Medicaid coverage because of a new job).
In addition, for 1997 forward, the NCHS began editing the insurance coverage variables to ensure accuracy (See variable description for HINOTCOVE, for example). Often, respondents misclassified the type of insurance they had. This might be shown, for example, by a mismatch between the verbatim name of an insurance plan and the type of insurance coverage the person selected from the categories on the card. The variables for 1997 forward reflect editing that verified the respondent's coverage status. For 1997, only persons without coverage for less than 3 years received the question on reason for no insurance.
Universe
- 1976: Persons not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
- 1980; 1982; 1984: Persons not covered by Medicare or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
- 1983: Persons in quarters 3 or 4 not covered by Medicare or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
- 1986: Persons not covered by Medicare or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, surgeon or dentist's bill ( or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
- 1989: Persons not covered by Medicare or any health insurance plan, including single service plans.
Availability
- 1976, 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989
Weights
- 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989 : PERWEIGHT
- 1983 : SAMPWEIGHT
