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HINOROTH
Reasons for no insurance: Other
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For persons who did not have health insurance coverage through Medicare, or private insurance coverage, HINOROTH indicates the person did not have insurance because some reason other than those specified in the survey. Respondents were handed a card which listed reasons or could specify "other" and were asked to pick all that applied. The response categories changed slightly over time which may affect the stated reasons for no insurance. The following responses were recognized consistently recognized over time:

  • dissatisfaction with previous insurance (HINORDISS)

For 1993 to 1996, additional responses included:

  • not eligible for coverage as a part-time worker (HINORPT)
  • benefits from former employer ran out (HINORBENE)
  • too old for coverage under family plan (HINOROLD)
  • family coverage not offered by employer (HINORFAMCOV)

For 1976 to 1989, respondents could indicate coverage through other public programs, such as Medicare (1976) Medicaid (1976 and 1980) or military health care (1976-1989). Coverage through these programs was not asked about until after the question for HINOROTH for 1976 to 1989. For 1993 to 1996, respondents 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. For 1976 to 1996, individuals may have also been covered through the government programs Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Supplemental Security Income.

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.

 

For example, in 1980 and 1976, respondents could select "coverage through Medicaid" as a reason for no insurance, although the person was covered through Medicaid. In addition, some persons may have received Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Supplemental Security Income and these individuals would automatically be enrolled in Medicaid. For these reasons, users should not consider those who received these survey questions "uninsured."

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.

 

HINOROTH is not comparable with variables for 1997 forward. In 1997, 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 respondents without coverage for less than 3 years received the question on reasons for no insurance.

Universe

  • 1976: Persons not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or insurance that paid for any part of a 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 plans, including single service plans.
  • 1993: Persons in quarters 3 or 4 not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, other public assistance, Indian Health insurance, CHAMPUS/CHAMP-VA, other military health care, or any private health insurance plan.
  • 1994-1996: Persons not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, other public assistance, Indian Health insurance, CHAMPUS/CHAMP-VA, other military health care, or any private health insurance plan.

Availability

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

Weights