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MEPS Home Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
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Download Data Files, Documentation, and Codebooks

Each data file contains the following:

  • Documentation file
    contains technical and programming information on how the data were collected and how file variables were edited, as well as survey sampling information and crosswalks from variables to the survey instruments.
  • Codebooks
    contain a list of variables, their labels, and unweighted and weighted frequencies.
  • Programming statements files
    and other files including data files in ASCII format.


For SAS, Stata, and R exercises presented in the latest MEPS workshops, please visit the MEPS repository on AHRQ's GitHub page externallink.

To search and explore variables across AHRQ's public use files, please visit the MEPS-HC Data Tools Variable Explorer.

Click the links below to download excel files containing the file names and numbers for the annualized Public Use Files (note that Public Use Files covering multiple years of data -- such as the panel-specific longitudinal files -- are not included):

  • PUFID_matrix.xlsx: matrix format (wide) with clickable hyperlinks to Data Files pages. Recommended for manual reference.
  • PUFID.xlsx (or PUFID.csv): list format (long) with text links to Data Files pages. Recommended for programmatic usage.
Select by year and/or data file type
Data file types to include in search (check all that apply). Click information icon info icon for file details. Click link for full list of file types in category.
Search all data files
Household Component Full-Year file details
Expenditure and utilization data for the calendar year from several rounds of data collection.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Household Component Event file details
Data for the calendar year on unique household-reported medical events.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Including the condition-event linkage file (CLNK) and PMED-event linkage file (RXLK).
Household Component Point-in-Time file details
Data for the beginning of the year providing early glimpses of what full-year estimates will likely be. Please note that production of these files has been discontinued. Data are only available for 2019 and earlier.
Household Component National Health Interview Survey Link file details
Cross-walk files that allow merging of MEPS-HC and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) files.
NHEA-Aligned MEPS Projected Expenditure Data File details
Data from the 2002 MEPS aligned with the 2002 National Health Expenditure Accounts and projected annually through 2016.
Household Component/Insurance Component Link file details
Linkage information for the employers of Household Component jobholders who are contacted through the Insurance Component.
Pooled Linkage file details
The pooled linkage file contains the standardized variance strata and PSU variables for a pooled analysis of multiple years of MEPS data. The pooled replicates file contains 128 half sample indicators needed to calculate standard errors using balanced repeated replication (BRR) method either for a single year analysis or a pooled analysis of multiple years of MEPS data.
Nursing Home Component file details
Documentation for the 1996 Nursing Home Component data files.
 


   Page last revised:  April 14, 2023
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