The American Community Survey and health insurance coverage estimates: possibilities and challenges for health policy researchers.
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the American Community Survey (ACS) and its measure of health insurance coverage to researchers and policy makers.


METHODS
We compare the survey designs for the ACS and Current Population Survey (CPS) that measure insurance coverage.


METHODS
We describe the ACS and how it will be useful to health policy researchers.


RESULTS
Relative to the CPS, the ACS will provide more precise state and substate estimates of health insurance coverage at a point-in-time. Yet the ACS lacks the historical data and detailed state-specific coverage categories seen in the CPS.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACS will be a critical new resource for researchers. To use the new data to the best advantage, careful research will be needed to understand its strengths and weaknesses.
Davern
Michael
M
Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, SHADAC-University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. daver004@umn.edu
Quinn
Brian C
BC
Kenney
Genevieve M
GM
Blewett
Lynn A
LA
D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States