Description

For persons covered by a health insurance plan (excluding Medicare or plans that pay only for accidents) which pays any part of a hospital bill, HOSPTYPE is a recoded variable that reports the type of plan. "Blue" plans referred to the type of coverage provided by Blue Cross plans (a specific organization). Blue Cross provided hospital insurance, and Blue Cross and other such plans were health maintenance organization (HMOs) that provided care on a prepaid basis.

Interviewers told respondents, "We are interested in all kinds of health insurance plans except those which pay only for accidents. (Not counting Medicare), Is anyone in the family covered by hospital insurance, that is, a health insurance plan which pays any part of a hospital bill?" (HOSPPRIV). Interviewers then asked, "Is anyone in the family covered by any other hospital insurance plan?" (HOSPOTHR). For each question, respondents were asked to provide the plan name. Responses to both question were used in the recode.

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Comparability

There are no comparability issues.

Universe

Availability

• 1976

Weights

• 1976 : PERWEIGHT