On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS
Baseline: 84.4 percent of persons under 65 years had prescription drug insurance in 2019
Target: 89.0 percent
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
Prescription drugs
- Mentioned (= yes)
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
- Mentioned (= yes)
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
- Mentioned (= yes)
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
- Mentioned (= yes)
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
- Mentioned (= yes)
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
*responses are aggregated
Methodology notes
Prescription drug coverage is defined as having one or more of the following: private health insurance, a single service plan that covers prescriptions, or Medicare Part D. More information on the definition of health insurance coverage is provided in the "technical notes" section of Health, United States, 2010.
History
- Revised.
In 2021, due to the 2019 NHIS redesign, the baseline was revised from 61.1% in 2018 to 82.0% in 2019. The target was revised from 70.6% to 89.0% using the original target setting method.
- Revised.
In 2024, the following categories were recalculated with the use of a newer variable: Never married, American Indian or Alaska Native only, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, 2 or more races only, Not Hispanic or Latino American Indian or Alaska Native only, Not Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, Not Hispanic or Latino 2 or more races only. Estimates from data year 2022 or earlier may vary slightly from estimates previously reported. The baseline, baseline year and target were not affected.
1. Effect size h=0.2 was chosen to correspond with 20% improvement from a baseline of 50%.