The CPS estimates
are based on
ERIU tabulations
of data collected by the U.S.
Census Bureau through the 2005
Current Population Survey (CPS)
Annual Social and Economic
Supplement (formerly called
the Annual Demographic Supplement,
or the March Supplement). CPS
estimates of the uninsured
are intended to represent persons
who are uninsured throughout
the calendar year. A person
is considered insured if they
were covered at any time during
that calendar year; individuals
insured for only one month
are counted as insured. CPS
estimates of the uninsured
should be interpreted with
caution. Respondents are asked
to report on a time period
that begins roughly 15 months
prior to the time of the interview.
Some respondents are likely
to have trouble remembering
back this far, while others may be confused
by the time frame and respond instead about
current coverage status. Studies that have
examined and compared CPS estimates with
data from other surveys, such as the Survey
of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)
and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
(MEPS), suggest that CPS estimates of the
uninsured are much closer to “point
in time” than true full-year estimates.
The MEPS estimates
are based on ERIU tabulations
of 2004 Medical Expenditure
Panel Survey (MEPS) data collected
by the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ).
The MEPS employs an overlapping
panel design and collects data
on two calendar years for each
respondent. The tabulations
reported here are based on
responses to interview Rounds
3, 4, and 5 of Panel 6 and
Rounds 1, 2, and 3 of Panel
7, which cover calendar year
2004 for both panels. Coverage
status is obtained at the initial
interview. At each subsequent
interview, respondents are
asked about whether their coverage
has changed since the last
interview and, if so, how and
when. Respondents report whether
they were covered by any public
or private source of health
insurance (Medicare, Medicaid,
SCHIP, TRICARE/CHAMPUS, other
public coverage, employment-based private, other private health
insurance). Respondents are considered uninsured if they respond “no” to
all of the coverage options; they are not asked directly if they
are uninsured. A person may gain or lose coverage during a year
and these data permit estimates of the number lacking coverage
at a particular point in time, at some time during the year, and
throughout the entire year. We label those who are without health
insurance for the entire year as “all-year uninsured,” and
those without health insurance for at least one month and up to
twelve months as “ever uninsured.” The “point-in-time
uninsured” estimates include those without coverage in the
first round of the calendar year (Round 3 for those who entered
the survey in 2001, and Round 1 for those who entered the survey
in 2002).
For further
discussion of issues related
to counting the uninsured
see "Counting
and Characterizing the Uninsured," (Adobe
PDF) by Pamela Farley Short,
and ERIU Research
Highlight 1: A Revolving
Door: How Individuals Move
In and Out of Health Insurance
Coverage (Adobe PDF)
Notes on CPS Data Source and Variables (PDF)
Notes on MEPS Data Source and Variables (PDF)
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