This file is a two-year longitudinal file derived from the respondents to the MEPS Panel 8 sample. The persons on this data set represent those who were in the MEPS population (civilian noninstitutionalized) for all or part of the 2003-2004 period. The file contains a longitudinal weight variable (LONGWT) ), all variables from the 2003 and 2004 consolidated full-year files (HC-079 and HC-089, respectively), and the strata and PSU values from the full year consolidated files and the pooled variance data file (HC-036). The weight variable (LONGWT), when applied to the persons who participated in both 2003 and 2004, will enable the user to make national estimates of person-level changes in selected variables (e.g., health insurance, health status, utilization and expenditures). In addition, LONGWT can be used to develop cross-sectional type estimates for the two-year period and for each year individually based on only the Panel 8 sample. Update Notes
The Round 3 variables describing "Number of Missed Days" (DDNWRK3, DDNSCL3, OTHNDD3) and "Number of Days Spent in Bed" (WKINBD3, SCLNBD3, DDBDYS3) have been revised to include information from both Year 1 and Year 2. The prior versions have only included information from Year 2.
Update #2: 11/22/13
STATA Programming Statements have been added.
Update #1: 06/14/13
The Panel 8 Longitudinal Weight File has been transformed into the Panel 8 Longitudinal Data File. Analytic variables have been added from the 2003 and 2004 consolidated full-year (HC-079 and HC-089) files. The longitudinal weight LONGWTP8 was renamed to be LONGWT.
*The PDF version of the codebook is recommended for printing; the HTML version is database driven and lets you navigate quickly to details on each variable.
**Right-click on the data file link, then select Save Target As or Save Link As to download the file.
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