FULL-YEAR DATA

POINT-IN-TIME DATA PANEL
LONGITUDINAL
DATA
POOLED DATA
Person
Level
Consolidated
Data Files
(1996-2005)
Person
Level
Supplemental
Variable Files
(1996-1999)
Person-
Condition Level
Files
(1996-2005)
Person-Round-Job
Level Files
(1996-2005)
Establishment
-Policyholder-
Covered Person Level File (1996 only)
Person-Round
Plan Files
(1996-2005)
Person Level
Files (1996-2005)
Person Level
Files
(Panel 1, 1996-97- Panel 9, 2004-05)

Pooled
Estimation File (1996-2004)

IDENTIFIERS

Dwelling unit

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Person

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Family

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Reporting unit

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Health Insurance Eligibility Unit

x (d)

x (c)

         
x (ab)
 

Establishment

       

x

x

     

Policyholder

       

x

x

     

Condition

 

x (e)

x

           

Panel

x (b)

x (e)

x (b)

   

x (b)

x (f)

x
 

Year indicator

             

x

 

SURVEY ADMINISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY STATUS

Eligibility, response status

x

 

x (a)

     

x

x (ab)
 

Interview date

           

x

   

Reference period dates

x

 

x (a)

     

x

x (ab)
 

Respondent identifier

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Language of interview

x (d)

x (c)

         
x (ab)
 
 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Census region

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

MSA status

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Age

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Month, year of birth

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Sex

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Race

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Race/ethnicity

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Hispanic ancestry

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Education

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Veteran status

x

          x
x (ab)
 

Current military service

x (aa)

         

x

x (ab)
 

Honorable discharge

x (z)

         

 

x (ab)
 

Student status, age 17-23

x (b)

         

x

x (ab)
 
 

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Marital status

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Parent identifiers

x

           
x (ab)
 

Spouse identifier

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Reference person identifier

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Relationship to reference person

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Family size

x

         

x (b)

x (ab)
 

Reporting unit size

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Type of reporting unit

x

         

x

x (ab)
 
 

HEALTH STATUS AND ATTITUDES

Height and weight, age 0-17

x (g)

               
Height and weight, age > 17 x (u)                

Body Mass Index, children

x (h)            
x (ab)
 
Body Mass Index, age > 17 x (h)            
x (ab)
 

Health status, age 0-17

x

           
x (ab)
 

Health practices - preventive care

 x (i)

x (j)

         
x (ab)
 

Health practices -alternative care

x (k)

x (j)

x (a)

           

Perceived health status

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Perceived mental health status

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

ICD-9 diagnosis codes

 

x (l)

x

           

ICD-9 procedure codes

   

x

           

Modified clinical classification codes

   

x

           

Specifics about condition

   

x

           

Immunizations, age 0-6

x (g)

               

Dental chekups, frequency

x (i)

           
x (ab)
 

ADL/IADL difficulties

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Use of assistive equipment/ devices

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Limitations, adults

x

         

x

x (ab)
 

Limitations, children

x

           
x (ab)
 

Social problems, age 5-17

x

           
x (ab)
 

Special education/therapies, age 5-17

x

           
x (ab)
 

Vision, hearing

x

           
x (ab)
 

Pregnancy, births

x (a)

               

Disability days

x (n)

x (o)

         
x (ab)
 

Child care provisions

x (p)

x (j)

             

Self-Administered Questionnaire (SAQ) variables

x (q)

           
x (ab)
 

SAQ:   SF12 Scores

x (q)

           
x (ab)
 
EuroQol items and Preference-based index x (x)                
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) x (y)            
x (ab)
 
Mental health –related questions for Kessler Index (K6) x (y)            
x (ab)
 

Parent-Administered Questionnaire (PAQ) variables1

x (r)

               
Child health and preventive care1 x (h)            
x (ab)
 

Diabetes Care Survey (DCS) variables

x (q)

           
x (ab)
 
 

ACCESS TO CARE

Usual source of care (USC)

x (n)

x (o)

         
x (ab)
 

Characteristics of USC

x (n)

x (o)

         
x (ab)
 

Reasons for no USC

x (n)

x (o)

         
x (ab)
 

Barriers to care

x (n)

x (o)

         
x (ab)
 

Born in US

x (w)

 

             
 

LONG TERM CARE

Activity limitations

 

x (e)

             

Limitations in functioning

 

x (e)

             

Hearing or vision impairments

 

x (e)

             

Use of special equipment

 

x (e)

             
 

CAREGIVER

ID potential caregiver (if MEPS)

 

x (e)

             

Type of care

 

x (e)

             

Time care provided

 

x (e)

             

Characteristics of potential caregiver

 

x (e)

             
 

EMPLOYMENT

Job ID

     

x

 

x

     

Employment status

x

   

x

 

x

x

x (ab)
 

Wage rate

x

   

x

   

x

x (ab)
 

Income from job

x (a)

   

x

         

Hours worked per week

x

   

x

   

x

x (ab)
 

Job start date

x

   

x

     
x (ab)
 

Job stop date

     

x

         

# of employees

x

   

x

   

x

x (ab)
 

Union membership

x

   

x

   

x (a)

x (ab)
 

Industry, occupation codes

x

   

x

     
x (ab)
 

Other job characteristics

x

   

x

   

x (a)

x (ab)
 

Job change, reason

x

           
x (ab)
 

Change in wages, full/part time

     

x

         

Job benefits

x

   

x

   

x (a)

x (ab)
 

Retirement status

x

   

x

   

x (a)

x (ab)
 

Reason not working

x

   

x

     
x (ab)
 

Start, end times

x

   

x

     
x (ab)
 

Self employed or not

x

   

x

   

x

x (ab)
 
 

INCOME

Poverty status

x            
x (ab)
 

Total person income

x            
x (ab)
 

Sources of income

x            
x (ab)
 

Income source imp flags

x            
x (ab)
 

Income tax filing status

x            
x (ab)
 

Income tax information

x            
x (ab)
 

Food stamps recipients

x            
x (ab)
 
 

INSURANCE

Health insurance from employment

x

   

x

 

x

x

x (ab)
 
COBRA coverage           x      

Characteristics of plan

         

x

     

Source of payment for premium

         

x

     

Satisfaction with plan

         

x

     

Medicare coverage @ interview

x (a)

         

x

   

Medicare coverage @ interview, 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Medicare coverage each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

CHAMPUS/ VA coverage @ interview

x (a)

         

x

   

CHAMPUS/ VA/TRICARE coverage @ interview, round, 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

CHAMPUS/ VA/TRICARE  coverage each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

Medicaid coverage in ref  period

x (a)

         

x (t)

   

Medicaid coverage interview, 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Medicaid coverage each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

Public coverage in ref period

x (a)

         

x

   

Public coverage interview, round or 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Public coverage each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

Private coverage in ref period

x (a)

         

x

   

Private coverage interview, round or 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Private coverage each month

x

          x  
x (ab)
 

Private coverage at interview

            x      

Insured/un-insured in ref period

x (a)

         

x

   

Insured interview, round, 12/31

x (q)

x (x)

         
x (ab)
 

Insured/un-insured each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

Duration w/out insurance

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Pre-existing conditions, exclusions

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Sources of private insurance

x (a)

          x

x (t)

   

Sources of private insurance each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

Policyholder of plan

x (a)

      x x x (t)    

Policyholder of plan each month

x

           
x (ab)
 

HMO/managed care enrollment

x (a)

x (j)

     

x

     

Medicaid HMO/gate-keeper coverage - round, 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

         
x (ab)
 

Private HMO/gate-keeper coverage - round, 12/31

x (q)

x (s)

        x  
x (ab)
 

Abstracted plan information

       

x

       

Types of private insurance and benefits

            x      

Out-of-pocket premium for private insurance2

            x      

Experience with private plans

            x      
Experience with public plans x (v)            
x (ab)
 
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) questions           x (v)      

Dental Insurance

x (d)

x (c)

        x  
x (ab)
 

Prescription Drug Insurance

x (d)

x (c)

        x  
x (ab)
 
 

HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION

# office-based provider visits

x

 

x

        x (ab)  

# office-based physician visits

x

            x (ab)  

# office-based nonphysician visits

x

            x (ab)  

# office-based visits to specific providers: chiropractors, nurse practitioners, optometrists, physician assistants, physical/occupational therapists

x

            x (ab)  

# outpatient department visits

x

 

x

        x (ab)  

# outpatient physician visits

x

            x (ab)  

# outpatient nonphysician visits

x

            x (ab)  

# emergency room visits

x

 

x

        x (ab)  

# zero-night hospital stays

x

            x (ab)  

# hospital inpatient stays

x

 

x

        x (ab)  

# nights spent in hospital

x

            x (ab)  

# home health events

   

x

           

# months with home health care

x (a)

               

# home health provider days

x

            x (ab)  

# agency home health provider days

x (b)

            x (ab)  

# non-agency home health provider days

x (b)

            x (ab)  

# informal home health provider days

x (b)

            x (ab)  

# prescribed medicine purchases

x

 

x (b)

        x (ab)  

# dental visits

x

 

x

        x (ab)  

# orthodontist visits

x

            x (ab)  

# alternative care visits

x (k)

               
 

TOTAL CHARGES, TOTAL EXPENDITURES, and EXPENDITURES by SOURCE OF PAYMENT 3

All

x

            x (ab)  

Office-based

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based physician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based nonphysician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based chiropractor

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based nurse practitioner

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based optometrist

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based physician assistant

x

           
x (ab)
 

Office-based physical/occupa-tional therapist

x

           
x (ab)
 

Outpatient department

x

           
x (ab)
 

Outpatient facility

x

           
x (ab)
 

Outpatient physician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Outpatient nonphysician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Emergency room facility

x

           
x (ab)
 

Emergency room physician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Zero-night stay facility

x

           
x (ab)
 

Zero-night stay physician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Hospital discharge facility

x

           
x (ab)
 

Hospital discharge physician

x

           
x (ab)
 

Dental care visit

x

           
x (ab)
 

General dentist

x

           
x (ab)
 

Orthodontist

x

           
x (ab)
 

Home health agency

x

           
x (ab)
 

Home health nonagency

x

           
x (ab)
 

Glasses/contact lenses

x

           
x (ab)
 

Other equipment/supplies

x

           
x (ab)
 

Alternative care (total expenditures)

x

           
x (ab)
 

Prescribed medicines (expenditures only)

x

           
x (ab)
 
 

SAMPLING WEIGHTS AND VARIANCE ESTIMATION

Person weight

x   x       x x (ab)  

Family weight

x           x x (ab)  

SAQ weight

x (q)            
x (ab)
 

PAQ weight

x (r)                

Diabetes care supplement weight

x (q)            
x (ab)
 

Stratum

x   x       x
x (ab)
 
PSU x   x       x
x (ab)
 
Longitudinal person weight               x  
Longitudinal stratum               x  
Longitudinal PSU               x  
Pooled stratum              
x (ab)
x
Pooled PSU              
x (ab)
x

MEPS-HC Variable Locator for Full-Year, Point-in-Time, Longitudinal and Pooled Data Files

Appendix 1: List of Data Files

Reference Period Public Use Files Type Years (PUF number)
Full-Year Data Person Level Consolidated Files 1996 (HC-012)
1997 (HC-020)
1998 (HC-028)
1999 (HC-038)
2000 (HC-050)
2001 (HC-060)
2002 (HC-070)
2003 (HC-079)
2004 (HC-089)
2005 (HC-097)
Full-Year Data Person Level Supplemental Variable Files4 1996 (HC-041)
1997 (HC-042)
1998 (HC-043 and HC-049)
1999 (HC-044)
Full-Year Data Person-Condition Level Files 1996 (HC-006R)
1997 (HC-018)
1998 (HC-027)
1999 (HC-037)
2000 (HC-052)
2001 (HC-061)
2002 (HC-069)
2003 (HC-078)
2004 (HC-087)
2005 (HC-096)
Full-Year Data Person-Round-Job Level Files 1996 (HC-007)
1997 (HC-019)
1998 (HC-025)
1999 (HC-032)
2000 (HC-040)
2001 (HC-056)
2002 (HC-063)
2003 (HC-074)
2004 (HC-083)
2005 (HC-091)
Full-Year Data Establishment-Policyholder-Covered Person Level File 1996 (HC-017)
Full-Year Data Person-Round-Plan Files 1996 (HC-024)
1997-2000 (HC-047)
2001 (HC-057)
2002 (HC-066)
2003 (HC-076)
2004 (HC-088)
2005 (HC-095)
Point In Time (first part of calendar year) Person Level Files 1996 (HC-001)
1997 (HC-005)
1998 (HC-009)
1999 (HC-013)
2000 (HC-022)
2001 (HC-034)
2002 (HC-053)
2003 (HC-064)
2004 (HC-075)
2005 (HC-084)
2006 (HC-093)
Panel Longitudinal Data (2 years) Person Level Files 1996-97 (HC-023)
1997-98 (HC-035)
1998-99 (HC-048)
1999-2000 (HC-058)
2000-01 (HC-065)
2001-02 (HC-071)
2002-03 (HC-080)
2003-04 (HC-086)
2004-05 (HC-098)5
Pooled Data Pooled Estimation File 1996-2005 (HC-036)
1996-2005 (HC-036BRR)


 

MEPS-HC Variable Locator for Full-Year, Point-in-Time, Longitudinal and Pooled Data Files


Appendix 2: Notes on Availability of Variables

 

NOTES:
(a) Only on 1996
(b) Not on 1996
(c) Only on 1996, 1997, and 1998 (HC-043)
(d) Not on 1996-1998
(e) Only on 1997 and the 1998 Long Term Care File (HC-049)
(f) Not on 1996 or 1999v
(g) Only on 1996-2000
(h) Not on 1996-2000
(i) Not on 1997 or 1999
(j) Only on 1997
(k) Only on 1996 and 1998
(l) Only on the 1998 Long Term Care File (HC-049)
(m) Only on 1996, 1998, and 2000
(n) Not on 1997 or 1998
(o) Only on 1997 and 1998 (HC-043)
(p) Only on 1998-2000
(q) Not on 1996-1999
(r) Only on 2000 and 2001
(s) Not on the 1998 Long Term Care File (HC-049)
(t) Not on 1997-2000
(u) Only 2000
(v) Not in 1996-2001
(w) Only on 2002 and 2003
(x) Only on 2000-2003
(y) Not on 1996-2003
(z) Only on 2005
(aa) Not on 2005
(ab) Not on Panels 1-8

 

 


1 A set of questions related to child health and preventive care was originally asked in the Health Status (HE) section and the hard copy 2000 Parent Administered Questionnaire (PAQ).  For 2001 and subsequent years, these questions moved to a separate section (Child Preventive Health (CS) and have been modified.

2 Starting with the 2001 MEPS, questions on out of pocket premiums were asked of all policyholders with private insurance coverage, for all establishments.  In prior years questions on out of pocket premiums were asked of policyholders only when the establishment was not a current employer or union, a self-employed job with firm size 1, or COBRA coverage. 

3 Family, Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, Veterans, Champus/Champva, Other Federal, State/Local Government, Workers Compensation, Other Private Insurance, Other Public Insurance, Other Insurance

4 The Person Level Supplemental Variables Files contain variables not released on the Person Level Consolidated Full Year Files during the years 1996-1999.  For subsequent years, please refer to the consolidated full year files.

5 The HC-098 Panel 9 (2004-2005) Longitudinal Data File contains all variables from the 2004 and 2005 person level consolidated files, along with the longitudinal weights, stratum, and PSU.  Prior panel longitudinal weight files contain only identifiers, longitudinal weight, stratum, and PSU.