US Census Bureau
Skip top of page navigation

PeopleBusinessGeographyNewsroomSubjects A to Z Search@Census

Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

Skip top of page navigation

SAHIE Methodology

SAHIE is an ongoing research program that improves the current SAHIE models and investigates other potential data sources for each release. For these reasons, we revise and improve our methodology with each successive release, as time and resources allow. For a description of the methodology used to create each year of data, refer to the information below.

Demographic and Income Model Methodology (2005)

Our demographic and income model produces county estimates of the number of people with and without health insurance coverage by age, sex, and income, as well as state estimates by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and income. The estimates are adjusted so that for key estimates, before rounding, the county numbers sum to their respective state totals and similarly the states sum to the national 2006 CPS ASEC (which contains questions about income during calendar year 2005) poverty universe for the numbers insured and uninsured.

We have developed experimental 2005 COUNTY estimates of people with and without health insurance coverage by:

  • Ages 0-64, 18-64, and 40-64;
  • Sex;
  • People of all income levels and people at or below 200 percent or 250 percent of poverty; and
  • Ages 0-18, at or below 200 percent of poverty.

We have developed experimental 2005 STATE estimates of people with and without health insurance coverage by:

  • Ages 0-64, 18-64, 40-64, and 50-64;
  • Sex;
  • All Races; White not Hispanic; Black not Hispanic; and Hispanic;
  • People of all income levels and people at or below 200 percent and 250 percent of poverty; and
  • Ages 0-18, at or below 200 percent of poverty.

Measures of uncertainty are also provided.

Demographic and Income Model Methodology (2001)

Our demographic and income model creates state estimates of the number of people with and without health insurance coverage by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and income. The estimates are adjusted so that, before rounding, state numbers sum to the national 2002 CPS ASEC (which contains questions about income during calendar year 2001) poverty universe. We have developed 2001 experimental state estimates of women with and without health insurance coverage for:

  • Ages 18-64, 40-64, and 50-64;
  • All Races, White not Hispanic, Black not Hispanic, and Hispanic; and
  • Women at or below 200 percent and 250 percent of poverty.

Measures of uncertainty are also provided.

Age Model Methodology (2000)

Our age model creates county and state estimates of people with and without health insurance coverage by age. We have a county-level model and state-level estimates, which are aggregated from the county estimates. The estimates are adjusted so that, before rounding, county numbers sum to their states and similarly the states sum to the national 2001 CPS ASEC (which contains questions about income during calendar year 2000) civilian, non-institutional estimates. We have developed experimental county and state estimates of people with and without health insurance coverage by age in 2000 for:

  • Total population; and
  • Children under age 18.

Measures of uncertainty are also provided.

SOURCE: Estimates obtained from models are applied to CPS data. Model inputs also include Census 2000, intercensal population estimates, and administrative records data. For information on the data sources, measures of uncertainty, confidentiality protection, and sources of error, see SAHIE source and accuracy.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau  |  Small Area Health Insurance Estimates Program  |  Page Last Modified: October 08, 2008