Table 2 Sample Characteristics Before and After the Affordable Care Act (ACA), MEPS 2006–2015
|  | Pre-ACA (2006–2010) | ACA (2011–2013) | Post-ACA (2014–2015) | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sample Size | 15,548 | 10,313 | 7058 | 32,919 |
Population Represented | 16,723,986 | 11,515,758 | 8,256,622 | 36,496,366 |
Outcomes | ||||
 Any ED Visits | 18.1 | 18.2 | 21.0 | 18.8 |
 Number of ED Visits (if 1+), Mean (SD) | 1.4 (0.9) | 1.4 (0.8) | 1.6 (1.1) | 1.4 (0.9) |
 Any Inpatient Visits | 17.1 | 15.2 | 15.6 | 16.2 |
 Number of Inpatient Visits (if 1+), Mean (SD) | 1.4 (0.8) | 1.4 (0.8) | 1.5 (1.0) | 1.4 (0.9) |
 Total Inpatient Nights (if 1+), Mean (SD) | 7.6 (10.9) | 7.4 (13.8) | 7.8 (11.6) | 7.6 (12.0) |
 Average Number of Nights/Inpatient Visit (if 1+), Mean (SD) | 5.1 (6.5) | 5.0 (7.5) | 4.9 (6.2) | 5.0 (6.8) |
Demographics | ||||
 Age, Mean (SD) | 74.1 (6.3) | 73.7 (6.4) | 73.5 (6.3) | 73.9 (6.3) |
 Female (%) | 57.4 | 55.7 | 55.9 | 56.5 |
Race/Ethnicity (%) | ||||
 White (Non-Hispanic) | 80.8 | 79.5 | 77.4 | 79.6 |
 Black (Non-Hispanic) | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.2 |
 Other (Non-Hispanic) | 4.5 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 5.1 |
 Hispanic | 6.8 | 7 | 7.7 | 7.1 |
Poverty Level (%) | ||||
 Poor/Negative-Income (< 100%FPL) | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
 Near-Poor (100–125%FPL) | 7.4 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.7 |
 Low-Income (125–200%FPL) | 18 | 18 | 16.3 | 17.6 |
 Middle-Income (200–400%FPL) | 29.9 | 29.3 | 27.2 | 29.1 |
 High-Income (≥400%FPL) | 35.4 | 37.4 | 41.3 | 37.4 |
Education (%) | ||||
 Less than High School | 23.7 | 18.4 | 16.6 | 20.5 |
 High School Diploma | 35.3 | 32.4 | 30.5 | 33.3 |
 Some College | 18.6 | 22.9 | 24.4 | 21.3 |
 Bachelor’s Degree or Higher | 22.3 | 26.3 | 28.6 | 25.0 |
Census Region (%) | ||||
 Northeast | 19.9 | 18.7 | 18.7 | 19.2 |
 Midwest | 22.1 | 22.8 | 22.3 | 22.4 |
 South | 37.0 | 36.8 | 37.2 | 37.0 |
 West | 21.0 | 21.7 | 21.8 | 21.4 |
Marital Status (%) | ||||
 Single/Never Married | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
 Widowed/Divorced/Separated | 42.3 | 41.4 | 40 | 41.5 |
 Married/Cohabiting | 54.2 | 54.5 | 55.8 | 54.6 |
 Interview Not In English (%) | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 3.9 |
Health Status (%) | ||||
 General Health Status (Self-Rated) | ||||
  Excellent | 14.9 | 17.1 | 17.6 | 16.2 |
  Very Good | 29.9 | 30.5 | 31.1 | 30.4 |
  Good | 32.8 | 32.5 | 31.4 | 32.4 |
  Fair | 16.2 | 15.0 | 14.6 | 15.5 |
  Poor | 6.2 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 5.6 |
 Mental Health Status (Self-Rated) | ||||
  Excellent | 27.8 | 29.5 | 30.2 | 28.9 |
  Very Good | 30.9 | 30.4 | 29.1 | 30.3 |
  Good | 30.8 | 30.1 | 29.8 | 30.3 |
  Fair | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 8.1 |
  Poor | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
 Any Physical or Cognitive Limitations (Self-Reported) | 59.2 | 56.6 | 57.4 | 58.0 |
Chronic Conditions (%) | ||||
 Number of Chronic Conditions | ||||
  0 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 8.2 | 7.5 |
  1 | 12.6 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
  2 | 16.7 | 16.4 | 16.4 | 16.5 |
  3 | 16.5 | 16.9 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
  4 | 14.7 | 15.2 | 15.8 | 15.1 |
  5+ | 32.2 | 33.2 | 31.6 | 32.4 |
 High Blood Pressure | 67.8 | 69.5 | 68.2 | 68.4 |
 Coronary Heart Disease | 19.3 | 19.9 | 18.9 | 19.4 |
 Angina | 9.0 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 8.2 |
 Myocardial Infarction | 12.3 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 12.2 |
 Other Heart Disease | 25.0 | 27.1 | 29.3 | 26.6 |
 Stroke | 12.2 | 12.2 | 11.6 | 12.0 |
 Diabetes | 20.6 | 21.4 | 23.2 | 21.4 |
 Emphysema | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 6.4 |
 Asthma | 8.8 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
 Arthritis | 58.1 | 59.4 | 60.2 | 59.0 |
Insurance and Access to Care (%) | ||||
 Had Any Private Insurance | 52.3 | 52.7 | 54.6 | 53.0 |
 Had Any Public Insurance | 47.7 | 47.3 | 45.4 | 47.0 |
 Had Medicaid (Ever) | 9.7 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
 Have a Usual Source of Care | 93.9 | 93.9 | 94.0 | 93.9 |
 Cannot Get Needed Medical Care | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
 Cannot Get Needed Prescription Drugs | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 |