Description

KIDPRIV is a recoded variable, created by the Census Bureau's allocation program, which indicates whether a child respondent was covered by private (nongovernmental) health insurance during the previous calendar year.

KIDPRIV draws on information from PHIHHKID (which indicates whether the policyholder's co-resident children were covered by private insurance), PHINHKID (which indicates whether the policyholder's children living elsewhere were covered by private health insurance), and OUT (which indicates whether the respondent was covered by health insurance from someone outside the household). The Census Bureau interprets health insurance coverage from a person in the household (code 1) and health coverage from a person outside the household (code 2) as private health insurance coverage in this case.

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. Information on whether individuals had health insurance coverage from someone outside the household was only collected for 1996 forward. Other factors affecting the accuracy and completeness of identified private health insurance coverage include 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, another recoded variable created by the Census Bureau's allocation program, identifies individuals of all ages covered by private health insurance during the preceding calendar year.

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables

• UH_CHHI_A1
• UH_ZCHHI_A1