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 2002 - Uninsured Ever During Year
Characteristic	Population (Millions)	Distribution of Population	Uninsured (Millions)	Distribution of Uninsured	Uninsured Rate
TOTAL	173.2	100.0%	46.8	100.0%	27.0%
GENDER
Men	85.2	49.2%	24.8	53.0%	29.1%
Women	88.0	50.8%	22.0	47.0%	25.0%

AGE
ADULTS age 19-64	173.2	100.0%	46.8	100.0%	27.0%

Age 19-24	23.4	13.5%	10.8	23.0%	46.0%
Age 25-34	38.8	22.4%	13.3	28.5%	34.4%
Age 35-54	84.1	48.5%	18.4	39.3%	21.8%
Age 55-64	27.0	15.6%	4.3	9.2%	15.9%

RACE
White*	142.6	82.3%	35.7	76.4%	25.1%
Black*	21.2	12.2%	7.8	16.7%	37.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander	7.2	4.2%	2.2	4.8%	30.9%
American Indian	2.3	1.3%	1.0	2.0%	41.9%

HISPANIC ORIGIN
Hispanic	22.5	13.0%	12.2	26.1%	54.2%
Not Hispanic	150.7	87.0%	34.6	73.9%	22.9%

IMMIGRANT STATUS
US Native	98.6	56.9%	26.2	56.1%	26.6%
Immigrant citizen	5.6	3.2%	1.6	3.5%	29.0%
Immigrant non-citizen	8.4	4.8%	2.1	4.4%	24.5%
Unknown	60.6	35.0%	16.8	36.0%	27.8%

EDUCATION
Less than HS	21.7	12.5%	11.8	25.3%	54.5%
HS only	50.7	29.3%	16.2	34.7%	32.0%
Some post-HS	55.6	32.1%	13.2	28.3%	23.8%
4-year college degree or more	45.2	26.1%	5.5	11.7%	12.1%

INDIVIDUAL WORK STATUS
EMPLOYED FULL YEAR	74.7	43.1%	10.0	21.3%	13.3%

Full time	69.3	40.0%	8.6	18.5%	12.5%
Part time	5.4	3.1%	1.3	2.8%	24.6%

EMPLOYED PART YEAR	53.5	30.9%	22.3	47.7%	41.7%

Full time	23.8	13.7%	10.3	22.0%	43.2%
Part time	29.7	17.2%	12.0	25.8%	40.5%

SELF EMPLOYED	16.1	9.3%	5.3	11.4%	33.2%
DID NOT WORK	28.9	16.7%	9.1	19.5%	31.6%

FAMILY WORK STATUS
2 or more full time	51.3	29.6%	10.7	22.8%	20.8%
Only 1 full time	79.7	46.0%	18.8	40.3%	23.6%
Only part time	18.5	10.7%	8.6	18.4%	46.5%
Only self employed	11.2	6.5%	4.4	9.4%	39.1%
No Workers	12.5	7.2%	4.3	9.1%	34.0%

WAGE/SALARY FOR PRIMARY EARNER
None	17.9	10.3%	7.3	15.5%	40.7%
Under $7/hour	11.2	6.5%	6.0	12.9%	53.8%
$7-$15/hour	59.3	34.3%	22.2	47.5%	37.4%
$15-$25/hour	45.1	26.0%	7.4	15.9%	16.5%
More than $25/hour	39.7	22.9%	3.8	8.1%	9.6%

FAMILY COMPOSITION
WITH CHILDREN	80.2	46.3%	22.4	47.8%	27.9%

1 Adult	9.4	5.5%	3.8	8.2%	40.4%
2 Married adults	61.3	35.4%	13.5	28.9%	22.0%
Other	9.5	5.5%	5.0	10.8%	53.2%

WITHOUT CHILDREN	93.0	53.7%	24.4	52.2%	26.2%

1 Adult	33.8	19.5%	11.7	24.9%	34.5%
2 Married adults	48.1	27.8%	8.0	17.2%	16.7%
Other	11.1	6.4%	4.7	10.0%	42.4%

INCOME (Poverty Level)
Under 100% FPL	15.9	9.2%	9.4	20.0%	58.8%
100 - 200 % FPL	29.4	17.0%	14.9	31.9%	50.7%
200 - 300% FPL	31.4	18.1%	10.2	21.8%	32.5%
300 - 400% FPL	28.5	16.4%	6.0	12.7%	20.9%
More than 400% FPL	68.0	39.3%	6.3	13.5%	9.3%
*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 2002 tabulations are based on responses to the first three interviews (waves) of the 2002 panel, covering a 12-month period that corresponds with calendar year 2002 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)