Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality

STATISTICAL BRIEF #221 

September 2008 

Highlights 

 There was a significant 

increase in the percentage 

of children and young 

adults under 21 with public 

dental coverage only from 

1996 to 2006. 

 Poor, low, and middle 

income children and young 

adults under the age of 21 

were much more likely to 

have public dental 

coverage only and less 

likely to have no dental 

coverage in 2006 than in 

1996. 

 In 2006, it was more likely 

for black non-Hispanic, 

Hispanic, and white nonHispanic persons younger 

than 21 to have public 

dental coverage only, and 

less likely for them to have 

no dental coverage, than in 

1996. 

 A higher proportion of 

children and young adults 

under the age of 21 had at 

least one dental visit in 

2006 than in 1996. 

Dental Coverage of Children and Young 

Adults under Age 21, United States, 

1996 and 2006 

Richard J. Manski, DDS, MBA, PhD and Erwin Brown, Jr., BS 

Introduction 

This Statistical Brief presents estimates from the 1996 and 2006 

Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

(MEPS-HC). Moreover, this Brief provides data on the reported 

prevalence of dental coverage and the relationship of dental 

coverage to use for children and young adults age 0−20 living in the 

U.S. noninstitutionalized (community) population. MEPS-HC is an 

annual household survey sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality (AHRQ) and provides information useful for 

evaluating trends in dental care use and dental coverage status. In 

addition, this brief presents data from a period which corresponds 

with the enactment of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program 

(SCHIP) and public dental coverage only extensions. Estimates are 

presented as the first in a series of updates to Chartbook 17: Dental 

Use, Expenses, Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004. 

Only differences that are statistically significant at the 0.05 level are 

discussed in the text. 

Findings 

In 2006, a higher percentage of children and young adults under 21 

had public dental coverage only than in 1996 (figure 1). Additionally, 

a smaller percentage of children and young adults under age 21 had 

no dental coverage in 2006 than 1996. 

During 2006, approximately 45.1 percent or 37.2 million children and young adults under the age of 21 in 

the United States had at least one dental visit, compared with approximately 42.2 percent or 34.8 million 

children and young adults under the age of 21 during 1996 (figure 2). The likelihood of having a dental 

visit for children and young adults under 21 with public dental coverage increased from 28.4 percent in 

1996 to 35.1 percent in 2006. There was no significant change in the likelihood of having a dental visit 

during this period for those with no dental coverage. 

Children and young adults under age 21 living in poor, low-income, and middle-income families were 

much more likely to have public dental coverage only, and less likely to have no dental coverage in 2006 

than in 1996 (figure 3). 

Children and young adults under age 21 living in high-income families were more likely to have private 

dental coverage in 2006 than in 1996 (79.9 percent vs. 73.4 percent), and less likely to have no dental 

coverage in 2006 than in 1996 (17.9 percent vs. 24.8 percent). 

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2

Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and white non-Hispanic children and young adults under 21 were much 

more likely to have public dental coverage only and less likely to have no dental coverage in 2006 than in 

1996 (figure 4). 

Data Source 

Estimates shown in this Statistical Brief are drawn from analyses of the following public use files: 1996 

Full Year Consolidated Data File HC-012, and 2006 Full Year Population Characteristics Data File HC099. 

Definitions 

Dental visit 

Dental visit refers to care by or visits to any type of dental care provider, including general dentists, dental 

hygienists, dental technicians, dental surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, and periodontists. 

Dental Coverage Variables 

The variable for dental coverage indicates if a sample person was eligible to have payments made to a 

dental care provider on their behalf for dental care obtained during 1996 and 2006. For a detailed 

explanation of the dental coverage variables please see MEPS Chartbook No. 17 Definition of Terms, 

http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/cb17/cb17.pdf. 

Income 

Income is expressed in terms of poverty status, the ratio of the family’s income to the Federal poverty 

thresholds, which control for the size of the family and the age of the head of the family (see the 2006 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines at 

http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/06poverty.shtml for more details). In this Brief, the following classification 

was used: 

Poor—Persons in families with income less than or equal to 100% of the poverty line are 

considered poor. Some of these persons are in families reporting negative income. 

Low income—Persons in families with income over 100% through 200% of the poverty line are 

considered low income. 

Middle income—Persons in families with income over 200% through 400% of the poverty line are 

considered middle income. 

High income—Persons in families with income over 400% of the poverty line are considered high 

income. 

Population Characteristics 

In general, population characteristics were measured as of December 31st of the year of study (1996 or 

2006), or the last date that the sample person was part of the civilian noninstitutionalized (community) 

population living in the United States prior to December 31st of that year. 

Race/Ethnicity—Comparisons by race/ethnicity in this Chartbook are based on the following four 

race/ethnicity groups: black non-Hispanic, white non-Hispanic, Hispanic and other. Other includes nonHispanics who reported to be of a single race other than white or black (i.e., American Indian/Alaska 

Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as non-Hispanics who reported to be of 

multiple races (possibly including black). 

About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health 

care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, 

demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian non-institutionalized population. It is 

cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health 

Statistics. 
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For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or 

visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. 

References 

For a detailed description of the MEPS-HC survey design, sample design and methods used to minimize 

sources of nonsampling errors, see the following publications: 

Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr1/mr1.shtml 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr2/mr2.shtml 

Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care, 

July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5–III-12. 

Ezzati-Rice, TM, Rhode, F, Greenblatt J. Sample Design of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Household Component, 1998-2007. Methodology Report No. 22. March 2008. Agency for Health Care 

Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. 

http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr22/mr22.pdf 

Manski, R.J. Brown, E. Dental Use, Expenses, Private Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004. 

Rockville, (MD): Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2007. MEPS Chartbook No.17. 

http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/cb17/cb17.pdf 

Suggested Citation 

Manski, R.J. and Brown, E. Dental Coverage of Children and Young Adults under Age 21, United States, 

1996 and 2006. Statistical Brief 221. September 2008. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 

Rockville. MD, http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st221/stat221.pdf 

* * * 

AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in 

obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United 

States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and 

tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs. 

Please e-mail us at mepspd@ahrq.gov or send a letter to the address below: 

Steven B. Cohen, PhD, Director 

Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

540 Gaither Road 

Rockville, MD 20850 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 Full Year Consolidated File HC-012, and 2006 Full Year Population Characteristics File

53.2%

28.8%

18.0% 18.7%

30.4%

50.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Figure 1. Dental coverage status: percentage

of all children and young adults under age 21, U.S.

civilian noninstitutionalized population, 1996 and 2006

Percentage

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 Full Year Consolidated File HC-012, and 2006 Full Year Population Characteristics File

Figure 2. Dental coverage status: percentage of all children 

and young adults under age 21 with a dental visit, U.S. 

civilian noninstitutionalized population, 1996 and 2006 

Percentage

42.2%

55.2%

28.4% 26.9%

45.1%

58.0%

35.1%

26.3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Overall Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental Coverage

Only

No Dental Coverage

1996

2006

Statistical Brief #221: Dental Coverage of Children and Young Adults under Age 21, United States, 

1996 and 2006 

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Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 Full Year Consolidated File HC-012, and 2006 Full Year Population Characteristics File

Figure 3. Dental coverage status: percentage of children 

and young adults under age 21 by income, U.S. civilian 

noninstitutionalized population, 1996 and 2006 

Poor

15.7%

59.8%

24.5%

73.5%

12.9% 13.6%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Low Family Income

41.3% 40.7%

46.9%

18.0% 20.1%

33.0%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Middle Family Income 

70.2%

26.4%

3.4%

14.8%

21.8%

63.4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

High Family Income

1.8%

24.8%

79.9%

2.2%

73.4%

17.9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 Full Year Consolidated File HC-012, and 2006 Full Year Population Characteristics File

Figure 4. Dental coverage status: percentage of children and 

young adults under age 21 by race/ethnicity, U.S. civilian 

noninstitutionalized population, 1996 and 2006 

Black Non-Hispanic

39.5%

26.8%

47.8%

33.7%

11.9%

40.2%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Hispanics

31.2% 35.0% 33.9%

47.8%

24.9% 27.3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

White Non-Hispanic

28.4%

19.8%

61.5%

10.1%

18.3%

61.9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

Other*

53.1%

24.5% 30.1%

22.3% 18.4%

51.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Private Dental

Coverage

Public Dental

Coverage Only

No Dental

Coverage

1996

2006

*Other includes non-Hispanics who reported to be of single race other than white or black (i.e., American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as non-Hispanics who reported to be of 

multiple races (possibly including black). 

Statistical Brief #221: Dental Coverage of Children and Young Adults under Age 21, United States, 

1996 and 2006 

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