Description

For persons who did not have private health insurance or health coverage through Medicare, HINOREASON reports if the person provided a reason for no insurance. Respondents were handed a card which listed reasons and were asked to pick all that applied, or could specify "other". The response categories listed on the card changed over time, although the response, "can't obtain because of poor health, illness, or age" remained consistent across the years.

Persons may have had coverage through other public programs, such as Medicaid (1980 only) or military health care (1980 and 1983) or some other health plan (1984-1989). Individuals may have also been covered through the government programs Aid to Families with Dependent Children or received Supplemental Security Income. Coverage through these programs was not asked about until after the question on reason for insurance.

The definition of private health insurance remained fairly consistent between 1980 and 1989.

Comparability

Changes in the response categories may affect variable comparability over time. However, for all years, persons could identify "some other reason" if the reason was not listed on the card. While the available categories changed, HINOREASON only reports if any reason was given.

Some individuals who indicated no insurance may have been covered through other forms of public assistance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or military health care. Questions on these programs came afterthe question for "reason for no insurance" in the survey. For example, for 1980, respondents could select "coverage through Medicaid" as a reason for no insurance. Questions on military health care coverage also appeared after the question for reasons for no insurance and some individuals with "no insurance" due to illness or age are also covered through military health care.

Users should not compare this variable with variables for reasons for no insurance for 1997 forward. For example, HINORPOORH is not comparable with variables for 1997 forward (such as HISTOP12) which indicates the insurance company refused coverage. From 1997 forward, the NCHS began editing the insurance coverage variables to ensure accuracy (see also the variable description for HINOTCOVE, for example).

Universe

Availability

• 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989

Weights

• 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989 : PERWEIGHT
• 1983 : SAMPWEIGHT