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HINORUNEMP
Reasons for no insurance: Unemployment
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For persons who did not have health insurance coverage through Medicare or private insurance coverage, HINORUNEMP reports if the person did not have insurance due to unemployment-related reasons. Respondents were handed a card which listed reasons or could specify "other" and were asked to pick all that applied. Coverage refers to at the time of the survey, except for 1993 to 1996, when it is in the previous month.

Note that for 1976 to 1989 persons may have had coverage through other public programs, such as Medicare (1976), Medicaid (1976 and 1980), or military health care (1976-1989). Coverage through these programs was asked about after the question on reasons for no insurance. For example, for 1980 and 1976, respondents could select "coverage through Medicaid" as a reason for no insurance. Respondents who indicated no insurance due to unemployment were also covered through Medicaid. In addition, for 1976 to 1996, persons who received Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Supplemental Security Income are considered covered because they would automatically have been enrolled in Medicaid.

For 1993 to 1996, individuals were asked about coverage through these public programs before being asked for a reason for "not having coverage". However, for 1993 to 1996, individuals may indicate coverage through "some other plan". In other words, the individual was not necessarily uninsured.

Comparability

Changes in the universe and the choice of responses available to respondents reduce comparability over time. For the years 1976 to 1989, the universe includes those who may have been covered through other forms of public assistance, such as Medicaid or military health care. For 1993 to 1996, those with single service insurance plans are not included in the universe (they were not asked reasons for no insurance). In addition, users should not compare this variable with variables for reasons for no insurance for 1997 forward, such as HISTOP1 and should instead use the variable HINOUNEMPR, which has been recoded to improve comparability over time.

 

For 1976 to 1989, persons with coverage through public programs were asked about this coverage after the question for HINORUNMEP. Because of coverage through other programs and changes in the universe, HINORUNEMP is not comparable directly with variables for 1997 forward,.

For 1997 forward, the NCHS also began editing the insurance coverage variables to ensure accuracy (See variable description for HINOTCOVE, for example). Often, respondents misclassified the type of insurance they had. This might be shown, for example, by a mismatch between the verbatim name of an insurance plan and the type of insurance coverage the person selected from the categories on the card. The variables for 1997 forward reflect editing that verified the respondent's coverage status. For 1997, only respondents without coverage for less than 3 years answered the question on reason for no insurance.

Universe

  • 1976: Persons not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or health insurance that paid for any part of ahospital, doctor or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
  • 1980; 1982; 1984: Persons not covered by Medicare or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
  • 1983: Persons in quarters 3 or 4 not covered by Medicare or health insurance plance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, or surgeon's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
  • 1986: Persons not covered by Medicare or health insurance that paid for any part of hospital, doctor, surgeon or dentist's bill (or who only had a health insurance plan that paid for accidents).
  • 1989: Persons not covered by Medicare or any health insurance plans, including single service plans.
  • 1993: Persons in quarters 3 or 4 not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, other public assistance, Indian Health insurance, CHAMPUS/CHAMP-VA, other military health care, or any private health insurance plan.
  • 1994-1996: Persons not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, other public assistance, Indian Health insurance, CHAMPUS/CHAMP-VA, other military health care, or any private health insurance plan.

Availability

  • 1976, 1980, 1982-1984, 1986, 1989, 1993-1996

Weights