Description

HIPMDPICR is a recoded variable created the IPUMS NHIS staff, that indicates, for persons with at least one comprehensive private insurance plan, whether the person had a plan that allowed them to choose any doctor or instead had to choose from a specific list.

Data Collection Process

While information was consistently collected on up to four private plans per family, data are publicly available only for plans one and two beginning in 2004. Changes in the number of plans considered should have little effect on the results for HIPMDOPR.

In all years, the relevant survey question asked for each private plan was the following:

• Under this plan, can {you/the family member(s) with this plan} choose ANY doctor or MUST {you/they} choose one from a specific group or list of doctors?

While the definition of private insurance changed over time, these changes did not affect the detailed questions about the characteristics of private comprehensive insurance plans (in variables like HIPMDPICR). For a description of general changes in the definition of private health insurance during this period, see the variable description for HIPMDOPR and the User Note about "Changes in the Definition of Private Insurance."

Comparability

HIPMDPICR is largely comparable over time. The variable universe and question wording were consistent, and changes in the number of private plans covered would have little effect, given the rarity of people with more than two private plans.

The back-editing of insurance data to correct respondents' misreporting of insurance type reduces the comparability of HIPMDPICR's data from before and after 1997.

For 1997 forward, details on private plan coverage, such as HIPMDPICR, reflect responses for which the coverage type was back-edited. Prior to 1997, respondents may have misreported what type of insurance they had, and these errors were not corrected. Users should thus exercise caution in comparing results for HIPMDPICR from before and after 1997.

Universe

Availability

• 1992-1996, 1998-2014

Weights

• 1992, 1994-1996, 1998-2014 : PERWEIGHT
• 1993 : SAMPWEIGHT