An error in processing Medicare, Medicaid, and Other health coverage of the begin- and end-month variables led to between 160 and 4,600 person-month records receiving incorrect values. Specifically, begin- and end-month values for these records are incorrectly assigned to months beyond the reported health insurance spell. For example, a begin-month value of 1 and end-month value of 5 are assigned to months 6 through 12 of the reference period when the begin- and end-month values should be assigned to months 1 through 5 only (i.e., the duration of the spell). Begin and end months should have been assigned a value of “missing” for months beyond the reported health insurance spell, and corresponding status flags should have been assigned a value of zero for not-in-universe.
Data users should recode the impacted begin and end month variables to “missing” and the corresponding status flags to zero when the respective variable’s EMONTH value is less than MONTHCODE. Recoding begin- and end-month variables impacts associated edited and recoded monthly indicator variables (and corresponding status flags). Recode logic for begin/end month variables, edited/recoded monthly indicator variables, and corresponding status flags is below. The number of person-month records incorrectly assigned values varies by health insurance coverage type and data file. This error is present in the 2018-2023 SIPP data files.
Below are the 31 impacted begin/end month variables, edited/recoded monthly indicator variables, and corresponding status flags:
| Variable/Status Flag | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| EMC_BMONTH | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMC_BMONTH=. (missing) |
| AMC_BMONTH | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AMC_BMONTH=0 |
| EMC_EMONTH | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMC_EMONTH=. (missing) |
| AMC_EMONTH | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AMC_EMONTH=0 |
| ECRMTH | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then ECRMTH=2 |
| EMCPART{1:5} | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMCPART{1:5}=. (missing) |
| AMCPART | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AMCPART=0 |
| Variable/Status Flag | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| EMD_BMONTH | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMD_BMONTH=. (missing) |
| AMD_BMONTH | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AMD_BMONTH=0 |
| EMD_EMONTH | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMD_EMONTH=. (missing) |
| AMD_EMONTH | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AMD_EMONTH=0 |
| EMDMTH | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EMDMTH=2 |
| Variable/Status Flag | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| EOT_BMONTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EOT_BMONTH=. (missing) |
| AOT_BMONTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AOT_BMONTH=0 |
| EOT_EMONTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EOT_EMONTH=. (missing) |
| AOT_EMONTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AOT_EMONTH=0 |
| EOTMTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EOTMTH=2 |
| EOTHCOVTYPE | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then EOTHCOVTYPE=. (missing) |
| AOTHCOVTYPE | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then AOTHCOVTYPE=0 |
| Variable/Status Flag | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| RPUBTYPE1 | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then RPUBTYPE1=2 |
| RPRITYPE3 | If EMC_EMONTH<MONTHCODE then RPRITYPE3=2 |
| RPUBTYPE2 | If EMD_EMONTH<MONTHCODE or (EOT_EMONTH⟨MONTHCODE and EOTHCOVTYPE=1) then RPUBTYPE2=2 |
| ROTHCOVMTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE and EOTHCOVTYPE=2 then ROTHCOVMTH=2 |
| RIHSMTH | If EOT_EMONTH<MONTHCODE and EOTHCOVTYPE=3 then RIHSMTH=2 |
After updating the edited and recoded monthly indicator variables, data users should then use these updated variables to recode private/public any and health insurance coverage any recoded monthly indicator variables. Variables and recode logic are listed below.
| Variable | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| RPRIMTH | If EHEMPLY{1:2}=1 or EMCPART3=1 or EMILITYPE=1 then RPRIMTH=1 (“Yes, private coverage in this month”)
Else RPRIMTH=2 (“No, private coverage in this month”) |
| RPUBMTH | If EMCPART{1,2,4}=1 or EMDMTH=1 or EMILITYPE in (2:3) or EOTHCOVTYPE=1 then RPUBMTH=1 (“Yes, public coverage in this month”) Else RPUBMTH=2 (“No, public coverage in this month”) |
| Variable | Recode Logic |
|---|---|
| RHLTHMTH | If RPRIMTH=1 or RPUBMTH=1 then RHLTHMTH=1 (“Yes, health coverage in this month”) Else RHLTHMTH=2 (“No, health coverage in this month”) |