Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured


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 1 - SIPP Non Elderly Population Calendar Year 2001 - Uninsured Ever During the Year
Characteristic	Population (Millions)	Distribution of Population	Uninsured (Millions)	Distribution of Uninsured	Uninsured Rate
TOTAL	251.7	100%	64.8	100%	25.8%
GENDER
Men	124.7	49.5%	34.0	52.4%	27.3%
Women	127.1	50.5%	30.9	47.6%	24.3%

AGE
CHILDREN Under age 19	78.2	31.1%	20.9	32.3%	26.7%

Under age 6	23.9	9.5%	6.6	10.1%	27.5%
Age 6 to 11	25.3	10.1%	7.4	11.4%	29.3%
Age 12 to 18	29.0	11.5%	6.9	10.7%	23.9%

ADULTS Age 19-64	173.5	68.9%	43.9	67.7%	25.3%

Age 19-24	22.4	8.9%	9.6	14.8%	42.8%
Age 25-34	39.1	15.5%	12.7	19.6%	32.5%
Age 35-54	86.1	34.2%	17.9	27.6%	20.8%
Age 55-64	25.9	10.3%	3.7	5.7%	14.4%

RACE
White*	203.2	80.7%	48.7	75.2%	24.0%
Black*	34.5	13.7%	11.8	18.2%	34.2%
Asian/Pacific Islander	10.6	4.2%	3.0	4.6%	28.1%
American Indian	3.4	1.4%	1.3	2.1%	38.8%

HISPANIC ORIGIN
Hispanic	35.1	13.9%	17.9	27.6%	51.1%
Not Hispanic	216.7	86.1%	46.9	72.4%	21.7%

IMMIGRANT STATUS
US Native	161.8	86.7%	35.6	75.9%	22.0%
Immigrant citizen	9.1	4.9%	2.5	5.4%	27.6%
Immigrant non-citizen	15.7	8.4%	8.8	18.8%	55.9%

FAMILY WORK STATUS
2 or more full time	87.2	34.7%	17.4	26.9%	20.0%
Only 1 full time	122.6	48.7%	30.9	47.6%	25.2%
Only part time	13.4	5.3%	5.3	8.3%	40.0%
Only self employed	2.0	0.8%	0.9	1.4%	45.8%
No Workers	26.5	10.5%	10.3	15.8%	38.6%

WAGE/SALARY FOR PRIMARY EARNER
None	20.0	7.9%	6.9	10.7%	34.8%
Under $7/hour	14.0	5.6%	6.7	10.4%	48.2%
$7-$15/hour	90.0	35.8%	32.4	50.0%	36.0%
$15-$25/hour	67.0	26.6%	11.0	17.0%	16.5%
More than $25/hour	60.8	24.2%	7.7	11.9%	12.7%

FAMILY COMPOSITION
WITH CHILDREN	158.3	62.9%	41.7	64.3%	26.3%

1 Adult	27.5	10.9%	9.7	14.9%	35.3%
2 Married adults	114.1	45.3%	23.8	36.7%	20.8%
Other	16.7	6.6%	8.2	12.7%	49.3%

WITHOUT CHILDREN	93.2	37.0%	23.1	35.7%	24.8%

1 Adult	34.7	13.8%	11.5	17.8%	33.1%
2 Married adults	47.9	19.0%	7.3	11.3%	15.3%
Other	10.5	4.2%	4.3	6.6%	40.5%

INCOME (Poverty Level)
Under 100% FPL	27.9	11.1%	13.6	21.0%	48.9%
100 - 200 % FPL	47.3	18.8%	21.7	33.4%	45.8%
200 - 300% FPL	48.5	19.3%	14.1	21.7%	29.0%
300 - 400% FPL	39.1	15.5%	7.2	11.1%	18.4%
More than 400% FPL	87.0	34.6%	7.0	10.8%	8.1%

*Includes both Hispanic and Non Hispanic

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 over a period of roughly 4 years. The 2001 tabulations are based on responses to the first three interviews (waves) of the 2001 panel, covering a 12-month period that corresponds with calendar year 2001 for one of the four rotation groups. 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 in the 12th survey month. 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 SIPP Data Source and Variables (PDF)