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Table 2: CPS - SIPP Comparison Table
Adult Population (Age 19-64)
Calendar Year 2002
Characteristic Number (Millions) Uninsured Rate Number (Millions) Uninsured Rate Number (Millions) Uninsured Rate Number (Millions) Uninsured Rate
TOTAL
34.0
19.5%
31.4
18.1%
18.7
10.8%
46.8
27.0%
GENDER
Men
18.4
21.4%
17.3
20.3%
10.8
12.6%
24.8
29.1%
Women
15.6
17.7%
14.1
16.0%
7.9
9.0%
22.0
25.0%
 
AGE
ADULTS Age 19-64
34.0
19.5%
31.4
18.1%
18.7
10.8%
46.8
27.0%
Age 19-24
7.4
31.4%
7.1
30.2%
3.7
15.9%
10.8
46.0%
Age 25-34
9.8
24.9%
8.8
22.6%
5.3
13.5%
13.3
34.4%
Age 35-54
13.4
15.9%
12.7
15.1%
7.9
9.4%
18.4
21.8%
Age 55-64
3.5
12.8%
2.8
10.5%
1.8
6.6%
4.3
15.9%
 
RACE
White*
25.7
18.2%
24.2
16.9%
14.6
10.2%
35.7
25.1%
Black*
5.4
25.9%
5.0
23.6%
2.8
13.2%
7.8
37.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander
1.9
22.8%
1.6
21.5%
0.9
12.2%
2.2
30.9%
American Indian
0.5
34.5%
0.7
28.9%
0.4
18.3%
1.0
41.9%
Multiracial
0.5
21.4%
 
N/A
 
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
 
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Hispanic
9.4
40.4%
8.9
39.5%
5.8
25.9%
12.2
54.2%
Not Hispanic
24.6
16.3%
22.5
14.9%
12.9
8.5%
34.6
22.9%
 
IMMIGRANT STATUS
US Native
24.2
16.4%
17.5
17.7%
10.4
10.6%
26.2
26.6%
Immigrant citizen
2.1
21.7%
1.0
18.5%
0.6
10.4%
1.6
29.0%
Immigrant non-citizen
7.7
45.9%
1.3
15.9%
0.8
9.9%
2.1
24.5%
Unknown
N/A
N/A
11.5
18.9%
6.9
11.3%
16.8
27.8%
 
EDUCATION
Less than HS
9.1
40.6%
8.7
40.1%
6.1
27.9%
11.8
54.5%
HS only
12.4
22.9%
11.2
22.1%
6.8
13.5%
16.2
32.0%
Some post-HS
8.1
15.9%
8.3
15.0%
4.4
7.8%
13.2
23.8%
4-year college degree or more
4.4
9.4%
3.1
6.8%
1.4
3.1%
5.5
12.1%
 
INDIVIDUAL WORK STATUS (Annual)
EMPLOYED FULL YEAR
14.5
14.6%
6.8
9.0%
4.3
5.8%
10.0
13.3%
Full time
12.0
13.6%
5.8
8.3%
3.6
5.2%
8.6
12.5%
Part time
2.5
23.9%
1.0
18.2%
0.7
13.2%
1.3
24.6%
EMPLOYED PART YEAR
7.3
25.7%
14.3
26.6%
7.3
13.6%
22.3
41.7%
Full Time
4.9
26.7%
6.5
27.1%
3.0
12.5%
10.3
43.2%
Part time
2.3
23.9%
7.8
26.3%
4.3
14.6%
12.0
40.5%
 
SELF EMPLOYED
3.5
26.4%
3.9
24.5%
2.8
17.2%
5.3
33.2%
DID NOT WORK
8.7
25.9%
6.4
22.1%
4.3
14.8%
9.1
31.6%
 
FAMILY WORK STATUS
2 or more full time
7.3
14.5%
6.9
13.4%
3.7
7.3%
10.7
20.8%
Only 1 full time
14.3
17.8%
12.4
15.5%
6.9
8.7%
18.8
23.6%
Only part time
3.8
30.1%
5.8
31.2%
3.4
18.5%
8.6
46.5%
Only self employed
2.8
29.9%
3.4
29.8%
2.4
21.3%
4.4
39.1%
No Workers
5.7
26.8%
3.0
24.0%
2.2
17.4%
4.3
34.0%
 
WAGE/SALARY FOR PRIMARY EARNERS
No wage earner
3.7
26.6%
5.3
29.7%
3.2
18.1%
7.3
40.7%
Under $7/hour
6.3
45.6%
4.5
40.0%
2.9
25.8%
6.0
53.8%
$7-$15/hour
14.5
27.7%
15.1
25.4%
9.1
15.4%
22.2
37.4%
$15-$25/hour
5.8
11.6%
4.3
9.5%
2.4
5.2%
7.4
16.5%
More than $25/hour
3.8
8.5%
2.2
5.6%
1.1
2.7%
3.8
9.6%
 
FAMILY COMPOSITION
WITH CHILDREN
14.3
18.2%
14.8
18.4%
8.5
10.6%
22.4
27.9%
1 Adult
2.7
24.6%
2.4
25.9%
1.2
12.7%
3.8
40.4%
2 Married adults
8.7
14.7%
8.9
14.5%
5.2
8.4%
13.5
22.0%
Other
2.9
34.7%
3.5
36.4%
2.1
22.6%
5.0
53.2%
WITHOUT CHILDREN
19.7
20.6%
16.6
17.8%
10.2
10.9%
24.4
26.2%
1 Adult
8.2
24.0%
8.1
24.1%
5.1
15.0%
11.7
34.5%
2 Married adults
7.6
15.2%
5.1
10.6%
3.0
6.3%
8.0
16.7%
Other
3.9
34.0%
3.3
30.0%
2.1
18.8%
4.7
42.4%
                 
INCOME (Poverty Level)
Under 100% FPL
7.8
42.6%
6.8
42.4%
4.7
29.3%
9.4
58.8%
100 - 200 % FPL
9.5
36.0%
10.5
35.7%
6.6
22.4%
14.9
50.7%
200 - 300% FPL
6.6
23.1%
6.8
21.5%
3.9
12.6%
10.2
32.5%
300 - 400% FPL
3.7
14.7%
3.8
13.2%
2.0
6.9%
6.0
20.9%
More than 400% FPL
6.4
8.4%
3.6
5.2%
1.5
2.3%
6.3
9.3%
                 
*Includes both Hispanic and Non Hispanic
 

The CPS estimates are based on ERIU tabulations of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau through the 2003 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 SIPP estimates are ERIU tabulations of data collected by the U.S.Census Bureau in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) 2001 panel, which began in January 2001. The SIPP interviews respondents every four months during the life of the panel. The 2002 tabulations are based on responses that cover calendar year 2002. Respondents report whether they were covered by specific sources of public or private health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, other public, 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. The “point in time” estimate reflects health insurance status for December 2002. The “all year uninsured” estimate includes those without health insurance for all 12 months. The “ever uninsured” includes those reporting no health insurance for at least one month and for as many as 12 months.

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 SIPP Data Source and Variables (PDF)