Evaluation Report
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The National Health Interview Survey’s Family Health Insurance Section and Proposed Affordable Care Act-Related Questions: 2014 Cognitive Interviewing Results

Collaborating Center for Questionnaire Design Evaluation and Research
2/22/2015
Cognitive Interview
1/2014
NCHS
Citation: Scanlon, P. (2014). The National Health Interview Survey’s Family Health Insurance Section and Proposed Affordable Care Act-Related Questions: 2014 Cognitive Interviewing Results. National Center for Health Statistics. Hyattsville, MD. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/QBank/Report.aspx?1140
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Abstract: This report documents the results of the cognitive interviewing study examining a sub-set of the 2014 Family Health Insurance (FHI) section of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), as well as a number of proposed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)-related FHI questions. Overall, this section of the NIHIS and the proposed questions are designed to measure and monitor the healthcare coverage rates and habits of the American civilian, non-institutionalized population.

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Questions
Question Text 
Question Topic 
Are you covered by any kind of health insurance or some other kind of health care plan?Health Insurance
What kind of health insurance or health care coverage do you have? INCLUDE those that pay for only one type of service (nursing home care, accidents, or dental care). EXCLUDE private plans that only provide extra cash while hospitalized.Health Insurance
Are you covered by Medicare?Health Insurance
There is a program called Medicaid that pays for health care for persons in need. In this State it is also called (DC/MD/VA =Medical Assistance/Medical Assistance Program, Healthchoice, or REM Program/Virginia Medallion or Medallion 2). Are you covered by Medicaid?Health Insurance
Do you have any type of insurance that pays for only one type of service such as dental, vision, or prescriptions?Health Insurance
The next questions are about Medicaid coverage. In this State it is also called (DC/MD/VA= Medical Assistance/Medical Assistance Program, Healthchoice, or REM Program/Virginia Medallion or Medallion 2). You are listed as having Medicaid coverage. Can you go to ANY doctor who will accept Medicaid or MUST choose from a book or list of doctors or is a doctor assigned?Health Insurance
What is the name of the health plan that provided the book or list?Health Insurance
What is the name of the health plan that assigned the doctor?Health Insurance
[ROUNDS 1 and 2] Was your Medicaid obtained through Healthcare.gov or the [DC/MD/VA= Health Insurance Marketplace, such as DC Health Link/ Health Insurance Marketplace, such as Maryland Health Connection/Health Insurance Marketplace]? [ROUND 3] Was your Medicaid obtained through Healthcare.gov or a state Health Insurance Marketplace?Health Insurance
Under your Medicaid plan is there an enrollment fee or premium?Health Insurance
Is the premium paid for this Medicaid plan based on income?Health Insurance
Are you required to sign up with a certain primary care doctor, group of doctors, or certain clinic which you must go to for all of your routine care? Do not include emergency care or care from a specialist you were referred to.Health Insurance
Under your Medicaid plan, if you to go to a different doctor or place for special care do you need approval or a referral? Do not include emergency care.Health Insurance
It is important that we record the complete and accurate name of each health insurance plan. What is the COMPLETE name of the first plan? Do NOT include plans that only provide extra cash while in the hospital or plans that pay for only one type of service, such as nursing home care, accidents, or dental care.Health Insurance
Which family members are covered by [this plan]?Health Insurance
Are there any more private health insurance plans?Health Insurance
What is the name of the next plan?Health Insurance
I would like to ask you about [your private plan/Plan X (if multiple plans)]. Health insurance plans are usually obtained in one person's name even if other family members are covered. That person is called the policyholder. In whose name is this plan?Health Insurance
How are you related to the policyholder?Health Insurance
Does this plan cover anyone else who does not live here?Health Insurance
[ROUNDS 1 and 2] Which one of these categories best describes how this plan was obtained? [ROUND 3] Which one of these categories best describes how this plan was obtained?Health Insurance
Which one of these categories best describes how this plan was obtained?Health Insurance
How was this plan obtained?Health Insurance
Was the plan obtained through the Healthcare.gov or the [DC/MD/VA= Health Insurance Marketplace, such as DC Health Link/ Health Insurance Marketplace, such as Maryland Health Connection/Health Insurance Marketplace]?Health Insurance
Is this policy a platinum, gold, silver, bronze, or catastrophic plan?Health Insurance
Who pays for this health insurance plan? [ALL THAT APPLY]Health Insurance
Your health insurance premium is the amount you or a family member pays each month or year for health insurance coverage. Do you or a family member pay a premium for your health insurance?Health Insurance
[Round 1 and 2] Do you or a family member receive a benefit from an employer to help pay for a portion of your premium? [Round 3] Does your employer help pay for any part of your health insurance?Health Insurance
Does the amount of your premium depend on income?Health Insurance
Do you receive any benefits from the government, such as a tax credit, to help pay for a portion of your premium?Health Insurance
A co-pay is the flat fee you pay for each visit to your doctor or to another health care service provider. Does your health insurance require you to pay a co-pay?Health Insurance
Your deductible is the amount you must pay out of your own pocket each year before your health insurance begins paying for health care services. Does your health insurance have a deductible?Health Insurance
How much do you currently spend for health insurance premiums for your plan? Please include payroll deductions for premiums.Health Insurance
How often do you have to pay the premium for this plan?Health Insurance
Do you know how much the employer or union is paying for your plan?Health Insurance
How much does the employer or union currently pay for health insurance premiums for your plan?Health Insurance
How often does the employer or union pay the premium for this plan?Health Insurance
Is [fill 1] an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), an IPA (Individual Practice Association), a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), a POS (Point-Of-Service), fee-for-service or is it some other kind of plan?Health Insurance
VERSION_A [If only 1 person is covered by the plan]: Is the annual deductible for medical care for this plan less than $1,250 or $1,250 or more? If there is a separate deductible for prescription drugs, hospitalization, or out-of-network care, do not include those deductible amounts here. VERSION_B [If more than 1 person is covered by the plan]: Is the family annual deductible for medical care for this plan less than $2,500 or $2,500 or more? If there is a separate deductible for prescription drugs, hospitalization, or out-of-network care, do not include those deductible amounts here.Health Insurance
With this plan, is there a special account or fund that can be used to pay for medical expenses? The accounts are sometimes referred to as Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs), Personal Care accounts, Personal Medical funds, or Choice funds, and are different from Flexible Spending Accounts.Health Insurance
Under this plan, can you choose ANY doctor or MUST you choose one from a specific group or list of doctors?Health Insurance
Do you have the option of choosing a doctor from a preferred or select list at a lower cost?Health Insurance
If you select a doctor who is not in the plan, will the plan pay for any part of the cost?Health Insurance
When you need to go to a different doctor or place for special care, do you need approval or a referral? Do not include emergency care.Health Insurance
Does this plan REQUIRE you to have a primary care doctor or group of doctors for all routine care?Health Insurance
Does the plan pay for any of the costs for medicines prescribed by a doctor?Health Insurance
Does the plan for any of the costs for dental care?Health Insurance
In the PAST 12 MONTHS, was there any time when you did NOT have ANY health insurance or coverage?Health Insurance
In the PAST 12 MONTHS, about how many months were you without coverage?Health Insurance
The next question is about money that you have spent out of pocket on medical care. We do NOT want you to count health insurance premiums, over the counter drugs, or costs that you will be reimbursed for. In the PAST 12 MONTHS, about how much did [fill 2: you/your family] spend for medical care and dental care?Health Insurance
In the past 12 months did [fill1: you/anyone in the family] have problems paying or were unable to pay any medical bills? Include bills for doctors, dentists, hospitals, therapists, medication, equipment, nursing home or home care.Medical Expenses
Do you currently have any medical bills that are being paid off over time? This could include medical bills being paid off with a credit card, through personal loans, or bill paying arrangements with hospitals or other providers. The bills can be from earlier years as well as this year.Medical Expenses
[Rounds 1 and 2] [Do you/Does anyone in your family] have a Flexible Spending Account for health expenses? These accounts are offered by some employers to allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars of their own money for their use throughout the year to reimburse themselves for their out-of-pocket expenses for health care. With this type of account, any money remaining in the account at the end of the year, following a short grace period, is lost to the employee. [Round 3] [Do you/Does anyone in your family] have a Flexible Spending Account for health expenses? These accounts are offered by some employers to allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars of their own money for their use throughout the year to reimburse themselves for their out-of-pocket expenses for health care.Health Insurance

Page last reviewed: 12/13/2023
Content source: Collaborating Center for Questionnaire Design and Evaluation Research