Survey Results

Variable Name: Children whose families had problems paying or were unable to pay any medical bills in the past 12 months

Survey Items: FMEDBILL; FMEDBNOP

Denominator: Children age 0-17 years

Numerator: Children whose family did not have problems paying bills; Children whose family had problems paying bills; Children whose family were unable to pay medical bills

Revisions and Changes: The survey item was added in the 2011 NHIS Family Core.

Additional Notes: The bills include bills for doctors, dentists, hospitals, therapists, medication, equipment, nursing home or home care

Treatment of Unknown Values: Unknown values (responses coded as 'refused', 'don't know', or ‘not ascertained’) are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the data query results table. The proportion of unknown values is less than 1% in almost every indicator. Exceptions are noted in the form of a "Data Alert" at the bottom of a results table. Weighted population counts are underestimates due to both item nonresponse and unknowns, both of which are excluded from the counts.

History and Development: NHIS is a cross-sectional household interview survey that has been conducted continuously by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 1957. The content of the survey has been updated every 10-15 years and the last major revision occurred in 1997. The revised NHIS questionnaire has Core questions and Supplements. The content of the Core has remained largely the same since the last revision. The Supplements are used to reflect to new data essential for public health emerging issues. For example, in 2011 and 2012, enhanced health care access and utilization questions that are intended to address provisions and measure the effects of the Affordable Care Act were incorporated and food security questions were added. The survey sample design is redesigned every decennial years and the current sampling plan was implemented in 2006. All final data components are verified by NCHS staff prior to public release. More information can be found in the “Learn About the Surveys” section of this website and at the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.