Longitudinal Design Options for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component

• Activity Number: 654
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 8, 2013 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Health Policy Statistics Section
• Author(s): Steven Cohen*+
• Companies: AHRQ
• Keywords: Longitudinal design ; sample design optimization ; MEPS ; health insurance coverage

Abstract

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) is a nationally representative annual survey of over 40,000 business establishments and state/local governments. The survey is designed to produce estimates at the national and State level on the number and types of private health insurance plans offered, benefits associated with these plans, premiums, contributions by employers and employees, eligibility requirements, and employer characteristics. While the current MEPS-IC design provides estimates of employer decisions about health insurance offerings prior and post full implementation of the coverage provisions in the Affordable Care Act, both at the national and State level, the inclusion of a longitudinal arm in the survey would significantly enhance the capacity to interpret direct changes in employer behavior over time. This study provides a summary of the alternative design options under consideration for the MEPS Insurance Component and the most effective and efficient longitudinal design recommended for the MEPS Insurance Component that would permit planned analyses of changes in employer behavior associated with the planned coverage expansions in 2014.