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eriu: Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured Initiating and disemminating research to spark new policy discussion on health coverage issues.
2001 Data 2002 Data 2003 Data 2004 Data 2005 Data  
Fast Facts
 
   
Facts to Consider
 
 
Counting the Uninsured by Reference Period
All Year
Ever in Year
Point in Time
By Data Source
CPS
MEPS
SIPP
By Population
Total Non-Elderly
Adults
Children
Workers
Immigrants
By Additional Characteristics

Income
Education Level
Family Composition

Comparison Tables
CPS-SIPP
CPS-MEPS
Medical Utilization and
Expenditures Tables
 
Notes on Data Sources
and Variables
CPS
MEPS
SIPP
Data Dictionary
 
Table 12 - CPS
The Uninsured: Immigrant Status and Education Level
Adult Population (Age 22 - 64): Calendar Year 2003
EDUCATION
Native Parentage
First Generation Immigrants
Second Generation Immigrants
Total Non-Native Population
Total Uninsured
  Number (Millions) Percent Number (Millions) Percent Number (Millions) Percent Number (Millions) Percent Number (Millions) Percent
Less than High School
3.6
17.0%
4.5
47.2%
0.3
17.5%
4.8
42.5%
8.4
26.0%
High School Diploma
8.7
41.6%
2.5
26.6%
0.6
30.7%
3.1
27.2%
11.8
36.5%
Some Post-High School
5.7
27.4%
1.2
12.6%
0.5
29.5%
1.7
15.2%
7.4
23.1%
4-year College Degree or More
2.9
14.0%
1.3
13.7%
0.4
22.2%
1.7
15.0%
4.6
14.4%
TOTAL
20.8
100%
9.6
100%
1.8
100%
11.4
100%
32.2
100%
 

These estimates are based on ERIU tabulations of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau through the 2004 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.

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)