Description

For persons without health insurance coverage for less than 3 years, HISTOP10A indicates if one of the reasons for not having health insurance was the person's insurance plan raised the premium cost. Respondents were handed a card listing possible reasons for no insurance and were asked to specify the reason(s) or could specify 'other' (respondents were limited to five reasons for 1997 forward). Individuals with single service were considered to be uninsured, and included in the universe for this variable.

In 1997, in addition to HISTOP10A, respondents could indicate no insurance because the cost was too high (HISTOP11).

Comparability

There are no comparability issues. This variable is only available in 1997.

HISTOP10A is not comparable with variables for 1997 forward. For 1997, the universe includes only those without insurance for less than 3 years and the response categories are slightly different from all other years. Users should also not compare HISTOP10A with variables on reasons for no insurance from before 1997. Users who want to compare variables before and after 1997 should see the recoded variable HINOCOSTR, which has been recoded by the IPUMS NHIS staff to improve comparability over time. Users are strongly encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection.

Universe

Availability

• 1997

Weights

• 1997 : PERWEIGHT