Health Insurance and Healthcare Costs

NCHS Data Query System Topics

At a glance

  • The National Center for Health Statistics Data Query System (DQS) features estimates about health insurance coverage in the United States.
  • DQS also includes estimates about how cost affects access to care.
  • These estimates are based on data from the National Health Interview Survey.
Image shows a map, chart, and table over more data related watermarks. Says NCHS Data Query System

Effects of healthcare costs

Description: Medical care is the care provided under the direction of a qualified medical professional to support wellness or treat sickness or injury. Some people delay getting needed medical care because of the cost.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Explore NCHS DQS data on the following:

Description: Medical care is the care of sickness or injury under the direction of a qualified medical professional. Some people don't get needed medical care because of the cost.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on did not get needed medical care due to cost.

Description: Mental health care includes getting counseling or therapy or taking prescription medication for anxiety, depression, concentration, behavior, or other emotions. Some people don't get needed mental health care because of the cost.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on did not get needed mental health care due to cost.

Description: Prescription medications are used to treat diseases, manage conditions, or relieve symptoms. These medications require a formal order from a physician and must be filled by a pharmacy. To save money, some people take less medicine than prescribed, skip doses, delay filling their prescription, or do not take their prescription at all.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on did not take medication as prescribed to save money.

Description: People who delay or do not get medical care, prescription drugs, or dental care to save money are considered to have an unmet need for health care because of the cost.

Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
  • Race and Hispanic origin and poverty level for age group 18–64

Explore NCHS DQS data on the following:

Health insurance coverage

Description: Exchange-based coverage is a private health insurance plan purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace or state-based exchanges established as part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on exchange-based coverage at time of interview among adults.

Description: Health insurance can help cover the cost of medical expenses. Health insurance includes private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), state-sponsored or other government-sponsored health plan, or military plan.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on the following:

Description: Medicaid is a federal-state partnership administered by the states to assist states in providing medical care to eligible people.

Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
  • Age group and poverty level
  • Sex and marital status for age group 14–64
  • Sex and marital status for age group 18–64

Explore NCHS DQS data on Medicaid coverage among people younger than 65 years.

Description: People are considered uninsured if they do not have coverage under private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, public assistance (through 1996), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a state-sponsored or other government-sponsored plan or program, or a military health plan.

Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.

Available data filters:

  • Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
  • Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
  • Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level

Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for "uninsured at time of interview among adults" are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.

Explore NCHS DQS data on the following: