2013 State and County Health Insurance Coverage Estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS)

The tables below contain state and county health insurance coverage estimates for 2013.  These estimates come from the 2013 American Community Survey (ACS) via the U.S. Census Bureau’s American FactFinder (AFF) tool and were released on September 18, 2014.

50-State Estimates

• Map of  Private Coverage Rates by State, Change from 2012 to 2013, for All People
• Map of Public Coverage Rates by State, Change from 2012 to 2013, for All People
• Map of Uninsurance Rates by State, Change from 2012 to 2013, for All People
• Trends in Uninsurance Rates by State from 2010-2013, for All People
• Map of Uninsurance Rates by State, Change from 2012 to 2013, for Children Under Age 18
• Trends in Uninsurance Rates by State from 2010-2013, for Children Under Age 18

About the ACS

The ACS is a household survey that began in 2005 and produces annually updated data on a variety of population characteristics, including health insurance coverage. In total, the ACS surveys approximately three million US households each year. An important feature of the ACS is that it includes a large enough sample for state‐level and sub‐state estimates.

The ACS began asking survey respondents about health insurance coverage during the 2008 calendar year. Specifically, the survey asks respondents about current coverage for each person in the respondent’s household. A person is categorized as “insured” if he or she has coverage at the point in time at which the survey is administered.

How Are these Estimates Different from the Estimates that SHADAC Publishes Using Census Bureau Micro-Data Files?

Two definitions used by the Census Bureau to generate the tabulations above differ from those that SHADAC uses to generate tabulations for the SHADAC Data Center and the RWJF Data Hub.  The definitional differences are as follows:

   Family

• The Census Bureau defines a family as all related people in a household.
• SHADAC defines a family using a measure called the “Health Insurance Unit” (HIU), which includes all individuals who would likely be considered a family unit in determining eligibility for either private or public coverage.
• To learn more about the HIU, see SHADAC Brief #27, “Defining Family for Studies of Health Insurance Coverage.”

   Family Income

• The Census Bureau determines family income as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which is a definition of poverty used primarily for statistical purposes.  For example, FPL is used to estimate the number of Americans living in poverty each year.
• SHADAC determines family income as a percentage of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), which is a measure used for administrative purposes.  For example, FPG is used to determine eligibility for federal programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• To learn more about the difference between FPL and FPG, click here.
   

This report takes a high-level look at the data sources behind research and evaluation findings from the State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) grant program. 

Based on a review of SHARE grantee documentation and products, data sources used in monitoring and evaluating health reform fall into four major categories: household survey data, medical claims data, enrollment data, and qualitative data. 

This report identifies each of these data sources, examines how the sources were used, and details researcher insights from the collection and/or use of such data to support SHARE research. The purpose of this summary is to highlight the type of data that can be used for rigorous state policy research and the advantages and disadvantages of each data source.

View a PDF of the report.
 

Resources

Comparing Federal Government Surveys that Count the Uninsured: 2014
Issue Brief

Using Recent Revisions to Federal Surveys for Measuring the effects of the Affordable Care Act
Issue Brief

An Introduction to Redesigned Health Insurance Coverage Questions in the 2014 Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement
Issue Brief

Availability of Federal Survey Data to Measure the ACA's Impact on Health Insurance Coverage in 2014
Timeline

Availability of CPS Data in 2014 and 2015
Timeline

Archive of SHADAC's Annual ACS/CPS Data Release Webinars

Event Description

This is SHADAC's annual webinar to discuss the state health insurance coverage estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) and Current Population Survey (CPS). The estimates discussed during this event apply to calendar year 2013.  

SHADAC researchers Kathleen Call, PhD, and Joanna Turner, MS, lead the webinar and address the following topics: (1) results from both the ACS and CPS; (2) methodological changes to the CPS designed to improve the measure of coverage and to measure exchange participation; and (3) working with and accessing the estimates. 

Dr. Jennifer Cheeseman Day and Dr. Brett O'Hara, experts from the U.S. Census Bureau, join Kathleen and Joanna to discuss these topics and respond to questions.

This document provides an outline of the 2014 insurance coverage estimates that will be released from the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Download a PDF of the document.

This document provides an outline of the 2014 insurance coverage estimates that will be released from the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), and the National Heatlh Interview Survey (NHIS).

Download a PDF of the document.