Description
For persons eligible for the Access to Care section (ACCESSELIG), LANGSPEAK reports the language spoken in the home most of the time. LANGSPEAK is collected as part of the Access to Care section, which gathers information on usual source of care for all family members, characteristics of usual source of care health providers, and barriers family members have faced in obtaining needed health care. Please see ACCESSELIG for more information on the Access to Care section.
IPUMS MEPS reports the universe for each variable based on a thorough review of the original MEPS documentation. Investigating the data may reveal cases that do not meet the stated universe. Users are encouraged to validate universes for their analyses.
Related Variables
From 2002-2013, the Access to Care section collected information about language and nativity status. In addition to LANGSPEAK, the following questions are asked:
- LANGENGHH: Whole household is comfortable speaking English
- LANGENGNOCMF: Person uncomfortable speaking English
- USBORN: Born in the United States
- YRSINUSG: Number of years spent in the U.S. (grouped year estimate)
- YRSINUSC: Number of years lived in the U.S. (continuous measure)
Codes and Frequencies
Comparability
Although available in 2013, LANGSPEAK was not actually fielded in 2013. To support the transition to a new set of language questions asked in the Demographic section, the 2012 responses of persons in Panel 17 were simply copied to the 2013 file. Persons in Panel 18 were not asked LANGSPEAK, but were asked the new language questions in the Demographic section.
Otherwise, this variable is comparable over time.
Universe
- 2002-2012: All persons eligible for the Access to Care section (ACCESSELIG).
- 2013: All persons in Panel 17 who had a response to LANGSPEAK in 2012.
Availability
- 2002-2013
Weights
- 2002-2013 : PERWEIGHT
