Description
For all persons who are not deceased or institutionalized, USBORN indicates whether the respondent was born in the United States (i.e., in one of the 50 states or in the District of Columbia).
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.
In 2002, 2003, and 2007-2013, USBORN was asked of all persons eligible for the Access to Care section (ACCESSELIG) who were not deceased or institutionalized. The Access to Care section 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 healthcare. From 2002-2013, the Access to Care section also collected information about language and nativity status. Beginning in 2013, USBORN was moved to the Demographic section. Persons in Panel 17 were not asked USBORN in 2013. Instead, their 2012 response to the question from the Access to Care section was simply copied to the 2013 file and persons in Panel 18 were asked USBORN in the Demographic section.
Codes and Frequencies
Comparability
In 2013, persons in Panel 18 were asked USBORN in the Demographic section and the 2012 responses of persons in Panel 17 were copied to the 2012 file to support the transition to a new set of nativity questions asked in the Demographic section.
Otherwise, this variable is comparable over time.
Universe
- 2002-2003, 2007-2012: All persons eligible for the Access to Care section (ACCESSELIG).
- 2013: All persons in Panel 17 who had a response to USBORN in 2012 and all persons in Panel 18 who were not deceased or institutionalized.
- 2014-2021: All persons who were not deceased or institutionalized.
Availability
- 2002-2003, 2007-2021
Weights
- 2002-2003, 2007-2021 : PERWEIGHT