The following table includes major USA health surveys. All report age, gender, race, diagnosis, and procedures. For full names of surveys and more details on possible alternative means of access or access to older data, see the fuller descriptions under the USA tab.
| Survey Title |
Dates |
Variable Locator |
Lowest level of geography revealed |
Constituents |
Payment Source |
Marital Status |
Income/Education/Occupation |
Duration of visit or waiting time |
|
NHIS (ICPSR)
NHIS (CDC)
|
1963+ |
ICPSR |
4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural |
Sample of the civilian, noninstutionalized population. |
Asks if you have insurance, Social Security, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
Estimated |
| MEPS |
1977, 1980, 1987, 1996+ |
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality |
4 geographic regions; Some state level summary tables; Urban vs. Rural |
Subsample of households that participated in the prior year's National Health Interview Survey. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
NAMCS (ICPSR)
NAMCS (CDC)
|
1973-1981, 1985, 1989+ |
ICPSR |
4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural |
Sample of outpatients in physician's offices |
Yes |
No |
Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No |
Yes |
|
National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (ICPSR)
NHAMCS (CDC)
|
1992-2022 (ceased) |
ICPSR |
4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural |
Sample of patients selected from emergency & outpatient departments of hospitals. |
Yes |
No |
Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No |
Yes |
| National Hospital Discharge Survey/National Hospital Care Survey |
1964-2010; National Hospital Care Survey is restricted. |
ICPSR |
4 geographic regions. |
Sample of hospital discharges |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
NHANES (ICPSR)
NHANES (CDC)
|
|
ICPSR and CDC |
4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural |
Samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized population |
Questions regarding if you have insurance, Social Security, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
Not applicable |
| HCUP (restricted) |
1988+ |
See codebook |
4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural; Hospital state and sometimes city (through 2011; after 2011 all geography other than region removed) |
Sample of hospital inpatient discharges in participating states (states vary over time) |
Yes |
No |
Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No |
Yes |
| Public Patient Discharge Survey (restricted) |
1983+ |
See codebook |
Hospital; Zip Code |
Inpatients discharged from a California licensed hospital |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |