Description

For persons who did not have health insurance coverage through public or private plans in the past three years and who had tried to find some other type of health insurance when they had stopped being covered, HINORUNABL reports the reason why the person was unable to find coverage. Respondents were handed a card which listed two reasons or they could specify another, and were asked to indicate one main reason.

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.

Comparability

There are no comparability issues. Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the supplement was collected) may affect raw frequencies, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IPUMS NHIS weights.

Users should not compare this variable with variables for reasons for no insurance for 1997 forward. 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

• 1993-1996

Weights

• 1994-1996 : PERWEIGHT
• 1993 : SAMPWEIGHT