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 2 - SIPP Adult Population (Age 19-64) Calendar Year 2001 - Uninsured All Year
Characteristic	Population (Millions)	Distribution of Population	Uninsured (Millions)	Distribution of Uninsured	Uninsured Rate
TOTAL	173.5	100.0%	15.9	100.0%	9.2%
GENDER
Men	84.6	48.7%	9.0	56.4%	10.6%
Women	89.0	51.3%	6.9	43.6%	7.8%

AGE
ADULTS age 19-64	173.5	100.0%	15.9	100.0%	9.2%

Age 19-24	22.4	12.9%	2.9	18.1%	12.8%
Age 25-34	39.1	22.5%	4.4	27.5%	11.2%
Age 35-54	86.1	49.6%	7.1	44.5%	8.2%
Age 55-64	25.9	14.9%	1.6	10.0%	6.1%

RACE
White*	142.3	82.0%	12.5	78.5%	8.8%
Black*	21.7	12.5%	2.5	15.7%	11.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander	7.5	4.3%	0.7	4.5%	9.6%
American Indian	2.1	1.2%	0.2	1.3%	9.8%

HISPANIC ORIGIN
Hispanic	21.5	12.4%	5.3	33.1%	24.4%
Not Hispanic	152.0	87.6%	10.6	66.9%	7.0%

IMMIGRANT STATUS
US Native	147.8	86.2%	10.5	70.1%	7.1%
Immigrant citizen	8.9	5.2%	0.9	6.0%	10.1%
Immigrant non-citizen	14.8	8.6%	3.6	23.8%	24.2%

EDUCATION
Less than HS	22.8	13.1%	5.3	33.3%	23.2%
HS only	52.1	30.0%	5.9	37.3%	11.4%
Some post-HS	54.6	31.5%	3.6	22.7%	6.6%
4-year college degree or more	44.1	25.4%	1.1	6.8%	2.4%

INDIVIDUAL WORK STATUS (Annual)
EMPLOYED FULL YEAR	75.2	43.3%	3.4	21.7%	4.6%

Full time	70.4	40.6%	3.0	19.1%	4.3%
Part time	4.8	2.8%	0.4	2.6%	8.4%

EMPLOYED PART YEAR	55.4	31.9%	6.8	42.8%	12.3%

Full Time	27.2	15.7%	2.9	18.5%	10.8%
Part time	28.1	16.2%	3.9	24.3%	13.7%

SELF EMPLOYED	16.1	9.3%	2.5	16.0%	15.8%
DID NOT WORK	26.9	15.5%	3.1	19.6%	11.6%

FAMILY WORK STATUS
2 or more full time	61.7	35.5%	4.2	26.7%	6.9%
Only 1 full time	82.3	47.4%	7.3	46.0%	8.9%
Only part time	8.8	5.1%	1.4	8.8%	15.9%
Only self employed	2.0	1.2%	0.5	3.3%	25.8%
No Workers	18.8	10.8%	2.4	15.2%	12.9%

WAGE/SALARY FOR PRIMARY EARNERS
None	14.6	8.4%	1.7	10.7%	11.7%
Under $7/hour	9.0	5.2%	2.2	13.9%	24.8%
$7-$15/hour	60.9	35.1%	8.1	51.2%	13.3%
$15-$25/hour	47.4	27.3%	2.1	13.5%	4.5%
More than $25/hour	41.7	24.0%	1.7	10.7%	4.1%

FAMILY COMPOSITION
WITH CHILDREN	80.4	46.3%	7.6	47.8%	9.4%

1 Adult	10.2	5.9%	1.1	6.8%	10.6%
2 Married adults	60.9	35.1%	4.7	29.5%	7.7%
Other	9.3	5.3%	1.8	11.5%	19.7%

WITHOUT CHILDREN	93.2	53.7%	8.3	52.2%	8.9%

1 Adult	34.7	20.0%	4.2	26.2%	12.0%
2 Married adults	47.9	27.6%	2.6	16.6%	5.5%
Other	10.5	6.1%	1.5	9.4%	14.3%

INCOME (Poverty Level)
Under 100% FPL	15.2	8.7%	3.5	21.8%	22.9%
100 - 200 % FPL	29.0	16.7%	5.9	37.1%	20.3%
200 - 300% FPL	32.1	18.5%	3.4	21.3%	10.5%
300 - 400% FPL	27.8	16.0%	1.6	10.3%	5.9%
More than 400% FPL	68.4	39.4%	1.2	7.3%	1.7%

*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. 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)