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eriu: Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured Initiating and disemminating research to spark new policy discussion on health coverage issues.
Research Findings  
   
Fast Facts Home
 
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
 

In the Spotlight

How many Americans are uninsured? 45.0 million in 2003 according to the Census Bureau.

But some have cited a much higher number - 65 million in 2001 - while others claim that the number is much lower - 19.5 million in 2001. Surprisingly, each claim is true. Each refers to a different period of time: the highest number describes the uninsured at any time during the year; the lowest number counts those who are uninsured throughout the year.

ERIU has tabulated characteristics of the uninsured using three different views of who should be counted: those uninsured throughout the year, those uninsured ever during the year, and those uninsured at a point in time. ERIU's Fast Facts tabulations are the only source showing how characteristics vary with the definition of "uninsured."

For Fast Facts tabulations, turn to:

Counting the Uninsured by Reference Period

For more details about how data sources relate to the number uninsured, turn to:

Research Highlight 6: How Many Are Uninsured? Different Data Offer Different Dimensions