Description

For all persons, HICOVER indicates if the person had any type of health insurance coverage, including Indian Health Service and single service plans. Interviewers asked if each family member had any health insurance coverage; affirmative answers then received detailed questions about the type of coverage. Those indicating no coverage were asked a follow-up question to verify a lack of coverage.

Unlike other variables regarding insurance coverage status for 1997 forward, this variable has not been edited for accuracy. To compare coverage status for 1997 forward, users are strongly encouraged to use the variable HINOTCOVE, which is a recoded variable created by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and included in the original NHIS public use data.

The definition, order, and wording of private health insurance changed over time to reflect changes in the availability of different types of coverage and issues of interest. Users are strongly encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection and Private Insurance Definitions.

Comparability

There are no comparability issues.

To compare coverage status for 1997 forward, users are strongly encouraged to use the variable HINOTCOVE, which is a recoded variable created by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and included in the original NHIS public use data. HINOTCOVE, like other recoded health insurance variables in these data, is based on responses to a series of questions and on back editing based on plan name carried out by the NCHS.

To compare variables from before 1997 with those after 1997, users may want to use HINOTCOV, a variable created by the IPUMS NHIS staff to improve comparability over time. HINOTCOV combines variables for 1997 forward that were not edited to be consistent with the pre-1997 variables, which were also not edited.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-1999

Weights

• 1997-1999 : PERWEIGHT