Description

COVERGH is a recoded variable created by the Census Bureau to identify persons covered by an employment-based insurance plan during the previous calendar year. Individuals, who were themselves policyholders of employment-based insurance policies, as well as dependents covered by such policies, are coded "Yes" in COVERGH, via the Bureau's allocation program.

COVERGH combines information from several sources. PHIOWN identifies policyholders of private (nongovernmental) insurance policies. INCLUGH indicates whether such private insurance was secured through an employer or union. PHISPOUSindicates whether the policyholder's spouse was covered by this insurance; PHIHHKID indicates whether the policyholder's co-resident children were covered by this insurance; and PHIOTHR indicates whether other household members were covered by this insurance.

Comparability

User Note: For a set of variables that addresses many of the comparability issues in the CPS health insurance measures, see the summary health insurance variables created by the University of Minnesota's State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

The comparability of this variable over time is affected by changes in CPS methodology, including the addition of a follow-up question about "other" insurance beginning in 1996 and a final question added in 2001 to verify whether the respondent had any health coverage during the preceding calendar year (see VERIFY).

COVERPI, which is also a recoded variable based on allocation by the Census Bureau, identifies persons covered by either employment-based or privately-purchased individual insurance during the preceding calendar year.

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables

• UH_COVGH_A1
• UH_ZCOVGH_A1