The data set forms part of the data library of
the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).
The MEPS is a longitudinal national survey that
is used to yield national estimates of health care expenses.
During 1999, background data and data on the health
expenditures of a sample of 23,565 participants were obtained.
The 1999 sample was stratified into 143
strata (VARSTR99) and into 460 PSUs (VARPSU99).
The following variables are used in
the analysis.
VARSTR99 is the variance estimation stratum of
the respondent.
FACTYPE is the variance estimation PSU of the respondent.
PERWT99F is the final design weight of the respondent.
TOTEXP99 is the natural logarithm of the total
health care expenditure of the respondent during 1999.
racex is the value of a nominal variable for the
race (1 for American Indian, 2 for Aluet, Eskimo, 3
for Asian or Pacific Islander, 4 for black and 5 for
white) of the respondent.
inscov9 is the value of a nominal variable for
the type of insurance coverage (1 for private, 2 for
public and 3 for uninsured) of the respondent during
1999.
