Description

For persons who did not have health insurance coverage (in the previous month) through Medicare, private insurance (which included single service plans), military health care, the Indian Health Service, or Medicaid or other public assistance, this variable indicates the respondent did not have insurance because the benefits from the respondent's former employer ran out. Respondents were handed a card which listed reasons for no insurance or could specify "other," and were asked to pick all that applied.

For 1993 to 1996, persons may have had coverage through "some other plan" as indicated by this response category on the card. Individuals may also have received health care through Aid to Families with Dependent Children or received Supplemental Security Income and such recipients were automatically covered by Medicaid. In other words, the individual was not necessarily uninsured.

Persons 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.

Comparability

Apart from changes in the universe, this variable is comparable over time. Users should not compare this variable with variables for reasons for no insurance for 1997 forward.
Persons 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. In addition, persons in the 1993 or 1996 surveys may have been covered by "some other plan," or were covered through Aid to Families with Dependent Children or received Supplement Security Income, because persons in those programs were automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

Users who wish to compare HINOBENE with surveys for 1997 forward should see the variable HINOEMPR,which indicates an employment-related reason for no insurance and has been recoded to increase comparability over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1993-1996

Weights

• 1994-1996 : PERWEIGHT
• 1993 : SAMPWEIGHT