Description

For persons without health insurance coverage, and, in 1997, persons without health insurance coverage for less than 3 years, HISTOP15 indicates if a reason for not having coverage was the person lost coverage through Medicaid for "some other reason". Persons may have also lost Medicaid coverage after a pregnancy or because of attaining employment. 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 single service plans were asked about reasons for no insurance, since those with single service plans were considered to be uninsured.

Comparability

This variable is comparable for 1998 forward. Changes in the universe between 1997 and other years reduce comparability. 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. Although the category "lost Medicaid for some other reason" remained a consistent response for 1997 forward, other responses for 1997 were different than from 1998 forward. This variable is not comparable with variables from before 1997 indicating no insurance coverage.

Prior to 1997, persons may have had coverage through public programs or other plans, such as Medicare or Medicaid (1976, 1980), through military coverage (1982-1989), or through some other health plan (1993 to 1996). For these years, questions on coverage through these other types of programs were 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