NHIS Data on Health Insurance Coverage: An Important Policy Resource

Over the past decade, the NHIS has been an important source of data for estimates of insurance coverage and evaluations of policy initiatives affecting eligibility and takeup of public insurance, and offers of, and enrollment in private group plans. The NHIS permits a focus on population subgroups defined by health status, and examination of links between insurance and access to care and healthcare service use. With its commitment to provide early estimates, rapid public release of microdata, and flexibility in questionnaire design to capture new policy initiatives such as Medicare Part D, NCHS has positioned the NHIS to be a critical resource for evaluation of future policy initiatives. Examples from the literature will be used to illustrate the role played by the NHIS. Future information needs and the role of the NHIS as a key resource for researchers will be discussed.