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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 1 - CPS
Non Elderly Population
Calendar Year 2002
Characteristic
Population (Millions)
Distribution of Population
Uninsured (Millions)
Distribution of Uninsured
Uninsured Rate
TOTAL
251.7 100% 43.3 100% 17.2%
GENDER          
Men
125.3 49.8% 23.2 53.6% 18.5%
Women
126.4 50.2% 20.1 46.4% 15.9%
           
AGE          
CHILDREN Under age 19 77.3 30.7% 9.3 21.5% 12.0%
           
Under age 6
23.7 9.4% 2.6 6.0% 10.9%
Age 6 to 11
24.3 9.6% 2.7 6.1% 11.0%
Age 12 to 18
29.4 11.7% 4.0 9.3% 13.8%
           
ADULTS Age 19-64 174.4 69.3% 34.0 78.5% 19.5%
           
Age 19-24
23.5 9.3% 7.4 17.0% 31.4%
Age 25-34
39.2 15.6% 9.8 22.6% 24.9%
Age 35-54
84.3 33.5% 13.4 30.9% 15.9%
Age 55-64
27.4 10.9% 3.5 8.1% 12.8%
           
RACE          
White*
200.8 79.8% 32.5 75.1% 16.2%
Black*
32.9 13.1% 7.2 16.6% 21.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander
11.3 4.5% 2.3 5.2% 20.1%
American Indian
2.2 0.9% 0.7 1.5% 30.4%
Biracial
4.5 1.8% 0.7 1.5% 15.0%
           
HISPANIC ORIGIN          
Hispanic
37.3 14.8% 12.7 29.3% 34.0%
Not Hispanic
214.4 85.2% 30.6 70.7% 14.3%
           
IMMIGRANT STATUS          
US Native
221.9 88.2% 32.3 74.5% 14.5%
Immigrant citizen
10.3 4.1% 2.2 5.1% 21.6%
Immigrant non-citizen
19.5 7.7% 8.8 20.4% 45.3%
           
FAMILY WORK STATUS          
2 or more full time
70.3 27.9% 9.3 21.4% 13.2%
Only 1 full time
119.0 47.3% 18.4 42.5% 15.5%
Only part time
18.9 7.5% 4.8 11.2% 25.7%
Only self employed
13.6 5.4% 3.6 8.3% 26.5%
No Workers
29.9 11.9% 7.2 16.6% 24.0%
           
WAGE/SALARY FOR PRIMARY EARNER          
No wage earner
19.1 7.6% 4.7 10.8% 24.5%
Under $7/hour
20.8 8.3% 7.9 18.2% 38.0%
$7-$15/hour
76.0 30.2% 18.5 42.8% 24.4%
$15-$25/hour
70.8 28.1% 7.4 17.0% 10.4%
More than $25/hour
65.0 25.8% 4.8 11.2% 7.5%
           
FAMILY COMPOSITION          
WITH CHILDREN 154.7 61.4% 23.1 53.4% 15.0%
           
1 Adult
27.8 11.0% 4.9 11.3% 17.6%
2 Married adults
112.5 44.7% 13.6 31.5% 12.1%
Other
14.3 5.7% 4.6 10.6% 32.1%
           
WITHOUT CHILDREN 97.0 38.6% 20.2 46.6% 20.8%
           
1 Adult
35.3 14.0% 8.6 19.8% 24.4%
2 Married adults
50.2 19.9% 7.7 17.7% 15.3%
Other
11.6 4.6% 3.9 9.1% 34.0%
           
INCOME (poverty level)          
Under 100% FPL
31.6 12.6% 10.6 24.5% 33.6%
100 - 200 % FPL
42.9 17.0% 12.6 29.2% 29.5%
200 - 300% FPL
42.5 16.9% 8.2 18.8% 19.2%
300 - 400% FPL
36.3 14.4% 4.6 10.5% 12.6%
More than 400% FPL
98.5 39.1% 7.3 16.9% 7.4%
           
*Includes both Hispanic and Non Hispanic
 

These estimates are based on ERIU tabulations of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau through the 2003 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)