United States Small Business Administration
Office of Advocacy
RS 157
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Purpose
The objective of this study is twofold: 1) to estimate the extent
of health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured people
in the U.S. population with a focus on analyzing the uninsured
by employment status and firm size, and 2) to estimate differences
in health insurance and pension availability, eligibility and
coverage for the self-employed and for wage-and-salary workers
in firms of different sizes.
Measuring firm size differences in health insurance coverage of
workers as well as coverage among the self-employed is important
in assessing the effects of any health care reform proposal on
small business. Pension availability and coverage is also an important
issue facing small business. Health and pension benefits are closely
linked, significant payroll costs.
Part I of the study evaluated alternative data sources used to
produce estimates of the number of uninsured by employment status
and firm size (see Research Summary no. 146). The number of insured
and uninsured were estimated by employment status, firm size and
economic and demographic characteristics of the working population
using data from 1988 to 1992.
Part II provides tabulations and analyses of health insurance
and pensions by employment status and firm size, as well as economic
and demographic characteristics for both wage-and-salary workers
(by firm size) and the self-employed. The 1993 data are compared
with earlier analyses and tabulations of health insurance and
pension data from 1979, 1983 and 1988.
Scope and Methodology
Part I focused on the March Current Population Surveys (CPS) from
1988 to 1992 to obtain detailed estimates of the uninsured and
compared the CPS with the Survey of Income and Program Participation
(SIPP). Both surveys are available from the Bureau of the Census
and permit estimates of the number and extent of the total uninsured
by employment status and firm size. Overall, the March CPS is
better suited for a detailed analysis of the uninsured because
it is a larger sample and is available on an annual basis.
In the March CPS, the health insurance questions determine whether
an individual has had coverage from various sources at any time
during the previous year. In addition, the March survey has included
firm size information since 1988, permitting estimates of insurance
coverage by firm size and employment status over an extended period.
The March survey also contains demographic information such as
age, gender, race, marital status, education, and family structure.
Economic and labor force data include industry, occupation, class
of worker, work experience, and income.
The study examined the sources of health insurance coverage, including
direct employer-provided coverage, coverage by a family member's
employer, and non-employer coverage. The study analyzed the size
of firm from which individuals received indirect coverage, that
is, coverage from a family member's employer.
Part II focuses on an analysis of data from the April 1993 CPS
Employee Benefits Supplement (EBS), compared with earlier analyses
and tabulations of health insurance and pension data from the
May CPS for 1979, 1983 and 1988. The data permit analysis by firm
size (for employed persons only) of health insurance availability,
eligibility and coverage, as well as pension availability and
coverage.
Highlights
Summary
According to Part II of the study, the likelihood that an employer
will offer a pension plan or health insurance as a fringe benefit
increases with firm size. There is also a general tendency for
wage-and-salary workers to receive more fringe benefits than the
self-employed.
Ordering Information
The complete report is available from:
National Technical Information Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650
(703) 487-4639 (TDD)
Order Number: PB95-239703
Cost: A04/$19.50; A01/$9.00 Microf.
*Last Modified 6-11-01