There are variables for coverage in the previous year, but if I understand correctly HIOFFER and HIELIG refer to one’s current access to employer provided health insurance, but are only asked of those who do not currently have employer sponsored insurance. Is there a variable that explicitly describes whether one is currently using employer provided insurance.
Thanks!
There is the variable GROUPLW that identifies people who were covered by employer-sponsored health insurance last week. This variable, however, is only available in the 1996 and 1997 ASEC samples. For most years, the reference period in the ASEC sample is the previous year. This is because the questions in the ASEC samples are designed to provide an annualized perspective of measures in the CPS. Thus, most of the health insurance questions relate to insurance coverage during the previous year.