Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

A medical expenditure panel survey, which is sometimes represented by the acronym MEPS, refers to a library of surveys that are designed to provide national estimates of payment sources, health status, health expenditure, and health insurance coverage for the population [Page 870]of the United States that is not enrolled in the military or that is not institutionalized. One of the primary reasons for the existence of MEPS is to observe how the general population is interacting with the health care system within the United States. It is often formulated by the AHRQ, or the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

When administered, it will contain three main parts: the medical provider component, the insurance and/or employer component, and, finally, the household (core) component. The general public ...