Factors Associated with Different Degrees of Health Insurance Coverage

Abstract

This study used data from the 1996 National Health Interview Survey to identify families that have full health insurance coverage, have partial coverage, and are uninsured. It examined the socioeconomic and demographic variables that influenced the probability of being in a particular group. The results indicate that the probability of full insurance coverage was positively related to the level of education and age of the reference person, as well as to having children younger than age 6. Families below the poverty level had a lower probability of being fully covered by any type of health insurance compared with other families. A family with a self‐employed reference person or living in the South was less likely to have insurance. Implications of the study are discussed.