National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) Files

The data was used to show trends in public use of and expenditure for health care services for consideration of major policy expenditures, standards and activities in the healthcare field, and to aid in the development of public policy. This series contains social survey data from a national sample of health care expenditu res for the noninstitutionalized civilian population.

Besides person and household level data, this survey also contains an Institutional Population Component for residents of nursing and personal care homes and facilities for persons with mental retardation. It includes information used to estimate the respondent's health status, use of medical services, health insurance coverage, cost of medical care, and sources of payment. Population data includes information on demographic characteristics, residence history, health and functional status, and uses of and expenditures on medical care services.