Codes and Frequencies
Description
For persons in families with at least five private insurance plans, this variable indicates whether the fifth plan reported paid for hospital expenses.
Data Collection Process
Details about the characteristics of insurance plans (such as HI5HOSP) 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 HI5PCOV (Health Insurance Plan 5: Person's Coverage Status), which indicates whether the person was covered by the plan.
Related variables
Please use the IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus and search function for other related variables.
Information was collected on up to five plans per family (six plans in 1983).
Users may also want to use the variables HI1HOSP, HI2HOSP, HI3HOSP, and HI4HOSP (and HI6HOSP for 1983). Likewise, the variables HI1PCOV, HI2PCOV, HI3PCOV, HI4PCOV, and HI6PCOV indicate coverage status for each plan.
For 1980 to 1989, single service plans were not considered a form of health insurance, but plans which paid extra cash for hospitalizations were considered a form of health insurance. Users are strongly encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection and Private Insurance Definitions.
Comparability
HI5HOSP is comparable over time for years prior to 1989. There were changes in the survey quarters in which this question was asked in 1983, but using the prescribed IHIS weights eliminates comparability issues related to survey design.
A key difference is that in 1989, respondents were instructed to exclude plans that pay for only one type of service. Prior to 1989, respondents were only told to exclude plans that pay only for accidents. Thus, the survey in 1989 includes more explicit instructions on the exclusion of single service plans. The Field Representative's Manual for 1989 noted that such plans were a new and relatively rare form of insurance at the time.
Universe
- 1980: Persons covered by private health insurance, or whose coverage status was unknown.
- 1982; 1984: Persons covered by private health insurance that pays any part of hospital, doctor's or surgeon's bill.
- 1983: Persons in quarters 3 and 4 covered by private health insurance that pays any part of hospital, doctor's, or surgeon's bill.
- 1986; 1989: Persons covered by private health insurance that pays any part of hospital, doctor's, dentist's or surgeon's bill.
Availability
- 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989
Weights
- 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989 : PERWEIGHT
- 1983 : SAMPWEIGHT
