The 1982-1986 and 1989 samples include questions about Medicare, Aids to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid before asking about "other" public assistance programs. While the survey question specifically asking about coverage through any "other" public assistance program does not list these out, these are the metric by which "other" may be interpreted. These samples also ask about military coverage but later in the survey.

The 1988 sample only includes questions about Medicaid and AFDC/ADC.

In 1992, the survey asks about Medicare, Medicaid, and military health care, but the question associated with HIPOTHGOVR explicitly asks about "any OTHER public assistance program, other than Medicaid". The 1993-1996 surveys also explicitly ask about public assistance programs other than Medicaid, but only ask about Medicare and Medicaid prior to this question, specify that public or free clinics should not be included, and includes subsequent questions about military and Indian Health Services care.

Beginning in 1997, respondents select types of insurance from a list that includes private, Medicare, Medi-gap, Medicaid, military health care/VA, CHAMPUS/TRICARE/CHAMP-VA, Indian Health Service, a state-sponsored plan, AND other government program. In 1998, respondents could choose among different types of private health insurance. In 1999, single service plans and CHIP were added as response options. In 2000, they could select not having any type of coverage. In 2004, the survey reverted to a single response option for private health insurance and the military health care option was updated to include TRICARE/VA/CHAMP-VA.