Description

For persons who indicated having a Medicare Advantage or Medicare HMO plan, MCARPLUS (formerly known as the Medicare Plus Choice plan), MCARADVTYP is a recoded variable that indicates if the person actually has such coverage. Persons were asked for the name of their Medicare Advantage or Medicare HMO plan. The NCHS edited the data to assign persons to the correct plan type (either Medicare Advantage or private plan not Medicare Advantage (Medicare Supplemental plan), based on the verbatim responses.

MCARADVTYP was introduced in 2010 to ascertain if persons claiming to be in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare HMO plan (MCARHMO="2") are in that type of plan or in a Medicare supplemental plan.

Definition
Though no definition is provided to respondents, Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans," are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of an enrollees Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans may offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most include Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).

Comparability

There are no comparability problems.

Universe

Availability

• 2010-2018

Weights

• 2010-2018 : PERWEIGHT