Annette Watters Alabama State Data Center November 2011 Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration

Health Insurance Estimates from the Census Bureau’s Surveys SIPP – national data only CPS - State level data only ACS – Comes in 3 flavors: 1-year estimates 3-year estimates 5-year estimates Don’t mix and match. Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, The University of Alabama 2

ACS Health Insurance Estimates Go to American Fact Finder Look for Table B27001 Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 3

Advantages of the ACS Estimates Available on AFF2 Timely – health insurance tables come out every year. Tables for different age groups and for males and females, sometimes for different races Gives an estimate for small geographies You can get ACS health insurance estimates for places Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 4

Disadvantages of the ACS Estimates The ACS reports only what people fill out on their survey forms. The estimates are limited by how many surveys the Census Bureau has collected. (Sometimes ACS numbers are no d--- good.) For small areas the ACS estimates cover a 3- year or a 5-year average time period, instead of just one year at a time. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 5

Disadvantages of the ACS Estimates You have to combine males and females to get a total. You have to combine age groups. You have to be concerned about recalculating the margins of error every time you combine anything. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 6

CPS Health Insurance Tables data/index.html Disadvantage: State level data only Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 7

CPS Health Insurance Advantages Updated every year Several age groups Only source of information about type of coverage: Private insurance Medicaid Medicare Military Can compare all states equally Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 8

Model-Based Health Insurance Estimates from the Census Bureau SAHIE = Small Area Health Insurance Estimates Estimates of health insurance coverage at the county level for every county in the United States, updated every year. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 9

SAHIE estimates are not based on a survey They are based on a model. Inputs from several sources: The population estimates program at the Census Bureau Federal tax returns County Business Patterns Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The Supplemental Nutrition Program (formerly food stamps) The American Community Survey (SAHIE uses data from the ACS from all counties, even those where the sample size is so small that the data cannot be published in ACS tables.) Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 10

Advantages and Disadvantages of the SAHIE Estimates The SAHIE estimates are more reliable because they use more data sources. SAHIE gives comparable estimates for every county. But there is a time lag. (2008 and 2009 became available in 2011.) Because of methodological changes, the 2008 and 2009 estimates are not comparable to 2007 and previous estimates. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 11

New Feature on the SAHIE page! Maps can be created! for any SAHIE demographic and income combination in the 2008 and 2009 estimates. maps/index.html?reload Or click on the icon on the main SAHIE page. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 12