This document shows how our computer program takes some key edited health insurance variables and recodes them into the variables we use most often to prepare our tables and reports.

For a detailed description of all ACS variables in a data dictionary, go to: //www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/code-lists.html

Using Data from ACS 2008 or later years

Insured / Any Health Insurance Coverage Status
Variable: HICOV

IF HINS1, HINS2, HINS3, HINS4, HINS5 or HINS6 = 1
THEN HICOV = 1   "yes"
ELSE HICOV = 2   "no"

Private Health Insurance Status
Variable: PRIVCOV

IF HINS1, HINS2, or HINS5 = 1
THEN PRIVCOV = 1   "yes"
ELSE PRIVCOV = 2   "no"

Public Coverage Status
Variable: PUBCOV

IF HINS3, HINS4 or HINS6 = 1
THEN PUBCOV = 1   "yes"
ELSE PUBCOV = 2   "no"