Description

For persons who indicated they have four private insurance plans at the time of the survey, this variable indicates the person's fourth plan was paid for by the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Private insurance coverage that is paid for by SCHIP funds are known as "Premium assistance programs." These programs subsidize employer premiums, but the public cost is less than providing full coverage through public programs.

Information was collected on up to four plans per family; for 2004 forward, only data for the first and second plans are publicly available. Users may also want to see the variables HIP1CHIP through HIP3CHIP. In addition, the IPUMS NHIS has created a recoded variable which indicates if the respondent has any plan paid for by CHIP HIPCHIPR.

Please see HIP1CHIP (Plan 1: Paid for by SCHIP) for more information on collection and editing of private health insurance plan data.

Comparability

This variable is mostly comparable over time. Slight changes in the response categories of who paid for the plan occurred as new insurance programs became available. For all years, the categories of self or family (living in the household), employer or union, someone outside the household, Medicare, and Medicaid were available. The category of Children's Health Insurance Program was added to the survey in 1999 and this variable is completely comparable for 1999 forward. From 1998 forward, the category, "state or local government or community program" was used in place of the 1997 category of "government program."

Universe

Availability

• 1999-2003

Weights

• 1999-2003 : PERWEIGHT