Description

For all persons, EXPTRIPAY captures the sum of direct payments made by TRICARE (formerly CHAMPUS) for care provided during the year. Refer to the comparability tab for information on how the specific sources of payment included in EXPTRIPAY change over time. Payments for over-the-counter drugs and indirect payments not related to specific medical events, such as Medicaid Disproportionate Share and Medicare Direct Medical Education subsidies, are not included in this amount. For more information on how MEPS collects expenditure data, please refer to our user note on medical expenditures.

Related variables
Variables related to total annual health care expenditures by source of payment, total annual health care expenditures by type of medical service, and total annual health care charges are also available. Please refer to our user note on expenditures for a list of these variables.

EXPTRIPAY is a 6-digit numeric variable.

Comparability

This variable is mostly comparable over time. Prior to 2009, EXPTRIPAY includes direct payments for health care from TRICARE, including CHAMPVA. Beginning in 2009, EXPTRIPAY excludes direct payments from CHAMPVA; instead, direct payments from CHAMPVA are included in EXPVAPAY for 2009-forward.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2021

Weights

• 1996-2021 : PERWEIGHT

Flags