Description

For persons without health insurance coverage, and, in 1997, persons without health insurance coverage for less than 3 years, HISTOP13 indicates if a reason for not having coverage is the person lost Medicaid or medical coverage after a pregnancy. Respondents were handed a card listing possible reasons for no insurance and were asked to specify up to five reason(s) or could specify 'other'. For all years, individuals with coverage through single service plans were asked for reasons for no insurance, because single service plans were not considered to be insurance plans.

Apart from 1997, response categories listed on the card remained the same. While the response, "Medicaid/Medical plan stopped after pregnancy" remained the same for 1998 forward, the reason indicated in HISTOP13 was not listed in 1997. Instead, respondents could specify this in the "other" category. Response categories changed between 1997 and 1998 forward. See the Comparability tab for a discussion of these changes.

For related variables, please use the IPUMS NHIS search function and drop-down menus.

Users are also encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection.

Comparability

This variable is comparable for 1998 forward but changes in the universe and response categories reduce comparability for 1997. 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.

For example, the survey in 1997 distinguished between whether the individual (HISTOP1) or their parent/spouse lost their job or changed employers (HISTOP2A) as the reason for no insurance. For 1998 forward, HISTOP1 is available, and only one other employment related variable is available (HISTOP8), employer doesn't offer coverage/not eligible).

This variable is not comparable with variables from before 1997 indicating no insurance coverage. For these years, persons may have had coverage through Medicare or Medicaid (1976, 1980), through military coverage (1982-1989), or through some other health plan (1993 to 1996). For these years, coverage through these other types of programs was asked about after the question on reasons for no insurance. In addition, for 1997 forward, the NCHS began editing responses regarding insurance coverage status (based on the plan name given by the respondent) to improve accuracy. The variables from before 1997 have not undergone this editing to improve accuracy and are therefore less comparable with those after 1997.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2018

Weights

• 1997-2018 : PERWEIGHT