Codes and Frequencies
Description
For all persons who mentioned they had a private health insurance plan for hospital coverage, PHIHOBOTH indicates that the plan was obtained through some other group, other than an employer or union. For this variable, those "not in universe" are those who either did not have a private hospital insurance coverage (see HOSPNOMM or had a private plan which was obtained through a group (PHIHOBEMP) or not obtained through a group or employer (PHIHOBNOGR).
In 1976, private insurance was any type of insurance that paid for any part of a hospital, doctor or surgeon's bill, excluding single service plans but including plans which paid extra cash while hospitalized.
The definition of private insurance changed over time. Users are strongly encouraged to review the user notes Insurance Data Collection and Private Insurance Definitions.
Comparability
There are no comparability problems with PHIHOBOTH.
Users should be cautious about comparing PHIHOBOTH with variables for 1997 forward. For 1997 forward, the NCHS edited responses to the question on what kind of coverage the respondent had (e.g., private, Medicaid, Medicare) based on the plan name given. This editing procedure increased accuracy of the type of insurance coverage that respondents had for 1997 forward, and reduces comparability with earlier years.
During the course of data editing, the NCHS discovered many errors in the responses to questions about insurance coverage. This might be shown, for example, by a mismatch between the name of the plan given by the respondent and the type of insurance coverage the person selected from the categories on the card. Users should be aware that the responses for PHIHOBOTH have not been edited for accuracy and respondents may have mistakenly reported what type of insurance they had.
Universe
- 1976: Persons covered by private hospital insurance.
Availability
- 1976
Weights
- 1976 : PERWEIGHT
