US v. Aaron Graham

Filing

OPINION ATTACHMENTS filed. Copies to all parties and the district court/agency. [12-4659, 12-4825]

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 1 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the
National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014
Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., and Julian V. Luke
Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics

Overview
Preliminary results from the July–
December 2014 National Health Interview
Survey (NHIS) indicate that the number of
American homes with only wireless
telephones continues to grow. More than
two in every five American homes (45.4%)
had only wireless telephones (also known
as cellular telephones, cell phones, or
mobile phones) during the second half of
2014—an increase of 4.4 percentage
points since the second half of 2013. More
than one-half of all adults aged 18-44 and
of children under 18 were living in
wireless-only households. This report
presents the most up-to-date estimates
available from the federal government
concerning the size and characteristics of
these populations.

NHIS Early Release
Program

To provide access to the most recent
information from NHIS, estimates using
the July–December 2014 data are being
released prior to final data editing and
final weighting. These estimates should be
considered preliminary. Estimates
produced using the final data files may
differ slightly from those presented here.

Methods

015
3/2
7/2

For many years, NHIS has asked
respondents to provide residential
telephone numbers, to permit the
recontacting of survey participants.
Starting in 2003, additional questions
were asked to determine whether a family
had a landline telephone. An NHIS family
was considered to have landline telephone
service if the survey respondent for the
family reported that there was “at least

e

d
we

12.
No

4

, vi
659

one phone inside your home that is
currently working and is not a cell phone.”
(To avoid possible confusion with cordless
landline telephones, the word “wireless”
was not used in the survey.)
An NHIS “family” is an individual or
a group of two or more related persons
living together in the same housing unit (a
“household”). Thus, a family can consist of
only one person, and more than one
family can live in a household (including,
for example, a household where there are
multiple single-person families, as when
unrelated roommates are living together).
The survey respondent for each
family was also asked whether “anyone in
your family has a working cellular
telephone.” Families are identified as
“wireless families” if respondents reported
that someone in the family had a working
cell phone at the time of interview. This

0

This report is published as part of the
NHIS Early Release Program. Twice each
year, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for
Health Statistics (NCHS) releases selected
estimates of telephone coverage for the
civilian noninstitutionalized U.S.
population based on data from NHIS,
along with comparable estimates from
NHIS for the previous 3 years. The
estimates are based on in-person
interviews that are conducted throughout
the year to collect information on health
status, health-related behaviors, and
health care access and utilization. The
survey also includes information about
household telephones and whether
anyone in the household has a wireless
telephone.

Page | 1

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 2 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

person (or persons) could be a civilian
adult, a member of the military, or a child.
Households are identified as
“wireless-only” if they include at least one
wireless family and if there are no families
with landline telephone service in the
household. Persons are identified as
wireless-only if they live in a wireless-only
household. A similar approach is used to
identify adults living in households with
no telephone service (neither wireless nor
landline). Household telephone status
(rather than family telephone status) is
used in this report because most
telephone surveys do not attempt to
distinguish among families when more
than one family lives in the same
household.
From July through December 2014,
information on household telephone
status was obtained for 22,023
households that included at least one
civilian adult or child. These households
included 41,160 civilian adults aged 18
and over, and 13,754 children under age
18. Analyses of telephone status are
presented separately for households,
adults, and children in Table 1.
Analyses of demographic
characteristics are based on data from the
NHIS Person and Household Files.
Demographic data for all civilian adults
living in interviewed households were
used in these analyses. “Household
income” is the sum of the family incomes
in the household. Estimates stratified by
household poverty status are based on
reported income only because imputed
income values are not available until a few
months after the annual release of NHIS
microdata. Household poverty status was
unknown for 25.2% of adults in these
analyses.
Analyses of selected health measures
are based on data from the NHIS Sample
Adult File. Health-related data for one
randomly selected civilian adult in each
family (the “sample adult”) were used in
these analyses. From July through
December 2014, data on household
telephone status and selected health
measures were collected from 18,250 of
these sample adults.
Because NHIS is conducted
throughout the year and the sample is
designed to yield a nationally
representative sample each month, data
can be analyzed quarterly. Weights are

created for each calendar quarter of the
NHIS sample. NHIS data weighting
procedures are described in more detail in
a previous NCHS report (Parsons et al.,
2014).
Point estimates and 95% confidence
intervals were calculated using SUDAAN
software (RTI International, Research
Triangle Park, NC) to account for the
complex sample design of NHIS.
Differences between percentages were
evaluated using two-sided significance
tests at the 0.05 level. Terms such as
“more likely” and “less likely” indicate a
statistically significant difference. Lack of
comment regarding the difference
between any two estimates does not
necessarily mean that the difference was
tested and found to be not significant.
Because of small sample sizes, estimates
based on less than 1 year of data may have
large variances, and caution should be
used in interpreting such estimates.

Telephone Status

e

, vi
659

Demographic Differences
The percentage of U.S. civilian
noninstitutionalized adults living in
wireless-only households is shown, by
selected demographic characteristics and
survey time period, in Table 2. For July–
December 2014, there are six demographic
groups in which the majority live in
households with only wireless telephones:
adults aged 18–44, adults living only with
unrelated adult roommates, adults living
with children, adults renting their home,
adults living in poverty or near poverty,
and Hispanic adults.

15
More
adults
025–29than two-thirds of 30-34 aged
/2
(69.2%) and aged
/23 (67.4%) lived in households with only
7


0

In the second 6 months of 2014,
more than two in every five households
(45.4%) did not have a landline telephone
but did have at least one wireless
telephone (Table 1). Approximately 106
million adults (44.1% of all adults) lived in
households with only wireless telephones;
about 40 million children (54.1% of all
children) lived in households with only
wireless telephones.
The percentage of households that
are wireless-only and the percentages of
adults and children living in wireless-only
households have been steadily increasing.
The 4.4-percentage-point increase from
the second 6 months of 2013 through the
second 6 months of 2014 was statistically
significant. The 5.0-percentage-point
increase for adults from the second 6
months of 2013 through the second 6
months of 2014 and the 7.0-percentagepoint increase for children over the same
period were also significant (Figure).
However, the increases from the first 6
months to the second 6 months of 2014
were smaller than have been observed
over other recent 6-month periods and
were not statistically significant.
The percentages of adults and
children living without any telephone
service have increased slightly but

wireless telephones. These rates are
greater than the rate for those 18–24
(57.8%). The percentage of adults
living with only wireless telephones
decreased as age increased beyond 35
years: 53.7% for those 35–44; 36.8%
for those 45–64; and 17.1% for those
65 and over.

4

12.
No

Page | 2

d
we

significantly over the past 3 years
(Table 1). Approximately 3.2% of
households had no telephone service
(neither wireless nor landline). About 7.0
million adults (2.9%) and 2.5 million
children (3.4%) lived in these households.



Four in five adults living only with
unrelated adult roommates (81.3%)
were in households with only wireless
telephones. This rate is higher than
the rates for adults living alone
(49.5%), adults living only with
spouses or other adult family
members (35.8%), and adults living
with children (50.8%).



Two in three adults living in rented
homes (66.2%) had only wireless
telephones. This rate is twice the rate
for adults living in homes owned by a
household member (33.1%).



Adults living in poverty (59.4%) were
more likely than those living near
poverty (51.1%) and higher income
adults (42.5%) to be living in
households with only wireless
telephones. (Footnote 3 in Table 2
gives definitions of these categories.)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 3 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014



Hispanic adults (58.6%) were more
likely than non-Hispanic white
(40.3%) or non-Hispanic black
(45.7%) adults to be living in
households with only wireless
telephones.

Geographic differences were also
noted. Adults living in the Midwest
(48.0%), South (47.0%), and West (46.9%)
were more likely than those living in the
Northeast (29.5%) to be living in
households with only wireless telephones.
Adults living in metropolitan areas
(45.7%) were more likely than those living
in nonmetropolitan areas (37.6%) to be
living in wireless-only households.

Demographic
Distributions
The demographic differences noted
in the previous section are based on the
distribution of household telephone status
within each demographic group. When
examining the population of wireless-only
adults, some readers may instead wish to
consider the distribution of various
demographic characteristics within the
wireless-only adult population.
Table 3 gives the percent
distributions of selected demographic
characteristics for adults living in
households with only wireless telephones,
by survey time period. The estimates in
this table reveal that the distributions of
selected demographic characteristics
changed little over the 3-year period
shown. The exceptions were related to age
and home ownership status.

Selected Health Measures
by Household Telephone
Status
Many health surveys, political polls,
and other types of research are conducted
using random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone
surveys. Despite operational challenges,
most major survey research organizations
include wireless telephone numbers when
conducting RDD surveys. If they did not,
the exclusion of households with only
wireless telephones (along with the small
proportion of households that have no
telephone service) could bias results. This
bias—known as coverage bias—could
exist if there are differences between
persons with and without landline
telephones for the substantive variables of
interest.
The NHIS Early Release Program
updates and releases estimates for 15 key
health indicators every 3 months. Table 4
presents estimates by household
telephone status (landline, wireless-only,
or phoneless) for all but two of these
measures. (“Pneumococcal vaccination”
and “personal care needs” were not
included because these indicators are
limited to older adults aged 65 and over.)
For July–December 2014:

e

d
we

, vi
659

0



The proportion of wireless-only adults
who were aged 35 and over has
increased steadily, from 49.6% in the
second 6 months of 2011 to 56.2% in
the second 6 months of 2014.
The proportion of wireless-only adults
living in homes owned by a household
member increased from 44.2% in the
second 6 months of 2011 to 49.5% in
the second 6 months of 2014.

Page | 3



Regarding alcohol consumption, the
percentage of adults who had at least
one heavy drinking day in the past
year was substantially higher among
wireless-only adults (30.3%) than
among adults living in landline
households (19.6%). Wireless-only
adults were also more likely to be
current smokers.



Compared with adults living in
landline households, wireless-only
adults were less likely to have ever
been diagnosed with diabetes.



The percentage without health
insurance coverage at the time of
interview among wireless-only adults
under age 65 (18.7%) was greater
than the percentage among adults in
that age group living in landline
households (10.9%).







Wireless-only adults (44.2%) were
more likely than adults living in
landline households (31.5%) to have
ever been tested for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the
virus that causes AIDS.

The potential for bias due to
undercoverage remains a real threat to
health surveys that do not include
sufficient representation of households
with only wireless telephones.

Wireless-mostly
Households

015potential for bias due to
The
undercoverage is
only threat
3/2 conductednot theon landline to
/2 surveys
only
7

4

12.
No

experienced financial barriers to
obtaining needed health care, and
they were less likely to have a usual
place to go for medical care. Wirelessonly adults were also less likely to
have received an influenza
vaccination during the previous year

Compared with adults living in
landline households, wireless-only
adults were more likely to have

telephones. Researchers are also
concerned that some people living in
households with landlines cannot be
reached on those landlines because they
rely on wireless telephones for all or
almost all of their calls.
In 2007, a question was added to
NHIS for persons living in families with
both landline and cellular telephones. The
respondent for the family was asked to
consider all of the telephone calls his or
her family receives and to report whether
“all or almost all calls are received on cell
phones, some are received on cell phones
and some on regular phones, or very few
or none are received on cell phones.” This
question permits the identification of
persons living in “wireless-mostly”
households—defined as households with
both landline and cellular telephones in
which all families receive all or almost all
calls on cell phones.
Among households with both
landline and wireless telephones, 34.8%
received all or almost all calls on wireless
telephones, based on data for July–
December 2014. These wireless-mostly
households make up 14.9% of all
households. During the second 6 months
of 2014, about 40 million adults (16.9%)
lived in wireless-mostly households.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 4 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 5 gives the percentage of
adults living in wireless-mostly
households, by demographic
characteristics and survey time period. For
July–December 2014:




Adults with college degrees (20.8%)
were more likely to be living in
wireless-mostly households than were
high school graduates (14.5%) or
adults with less education (11.0%).
Adults living with children (20.0%)
were more likely than adults living
alone (9.3%), with roommates (5.5%),
or with only adult relatives (17.3%) to
be living in wireless-mostly
households.



Adults living in poverty (8.4%) and
adults living near poverty (12.0%)
were less likely than higher-income
adults (19.4%) to be living in wirelessmostly households.



Adults living in rented homes (11.0%)
were less likely to be living in
wireless-mostly households than were
adults living in homes owned by a
household member (19.9%).



Blumberg SJ, Luke JV. Reevaluating
the need for concern regarding
noncoverage bias in landline surveys.
Am J Public Health 99(10):1806–10.
2009. Available from:
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/
content/abstract/99/10/1806.



Boyle JM, Lewis F, Tefft B. Cell phone
mainly households: Coverage and
reach for telephone surveys using
RDD landline samples. Surv Pract
2(9). 2009. Available from:
http://surveypractice.wordpress.com/
2009/12/09/cell-phone-andlandlines/.

When including wireless telephone
numbers in RDD surveys, researchers have
many methodological, statistical,
operational, legal, and ethical issues to
consider. These issues have been described
in a report from a task force of the
American Association for Public Opinion
Research (AAPOR). That task force
included staff from CDC, and its report is
available online:

d
we



Research by Boyle, Lewis, and Tefft
(2009) suggests that the majority of adults
living in wireless-mostly households are
reachable using their landline telephone
number. NHIS data cannot be used to
estimate the proportion of wirelessmostly adults who are unreachable or to
estimate the potential for bias due to their
exclusion from landline surveys.

References and Other
Sources of Information
For more information about the
potential implications for health surveys
that are based on landline telephone
interviews, see

0

4

12.
No

The potential for bias may differ
from one state to another because the
prevalence of wireless-only households
varies substantially across states. For
more information about prevalence
estimates at the state level, see


NCHS. Modeled estimates (with
standard errors) of the percent
distribution of household telephone
status for adults aged 18 and over, by
state: United States, 2013. 2014.
Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/
nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless_
state_201412.pdf.



Page | 4

Other NHIS Early Release
Program Products
Two additional reports are published
regularly as part of the NHIS Early Release
Program. Early Release of Selected Estimates
Based on Data From the National Health
Interview Survey is published quarterly and
provides estimates for 15 selected
measures of health. Health Insurance
Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From
the National Health Interview Survey is also
published quarterly and provides
additional estimates regarding health
insurance coverage. Other Early Release
Program products are released as needed.
For more information about NHIS and the
NHIS Early Release Program, or to find
other Early Release Program products, see

015
3/2
7/2

AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force. New
considerations for survey researchers
when planning and conducting RDD
telephone surveys in the U.S. with
respondents reached via cell phone
numbers. Deerfield, IL: American
Association for Public Opinion
Research. 2010. Available from:
http://www.aapor.org/AAPORKentico
/Education-Resources/Reports/CellPhone-Task-Force-Report.aspx.

e
, vi
659

2012. National health statistics
reports; no 70. Hyattsville, MD:
National Center for Health Statistics.
2013. Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/
nhsr/nhsr070.pdf.



NHIS home page at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.



Early Release Program home page at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/
releases.htm.



Parsons VL, Moriarity CL, Jonas K, et
al. Design and estimation for the
National Health Interview Survey:
2006–2015. National Center for
Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat
2(165). 2014. Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/
series/sr_02/sr02_165.pdf.

Suggested Citation

Blumberg SJ, Ganesh N, Luke JV,
Gonzales G. Wireless substitution:
State-level estimates from the
National Health Interview Survey,

Blumberg SJ, Luke JV. Wireless
substitution: Early release of estimates
from the National Health Interview
Survey, July–December 2014. National
Center for Health Statistics. June 2015.
Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 5 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 1. Percent distribution of household telephone status for households, adults, and children, by date of interview: United States, July 2011–December 2014
Household telephone status
Number of
households
(unweighted)

Landline with
wireless

Landline without
wireless

Landline with
unknown wireless

Nonlandline with
unknown wireless

Wireless-only

Phoneless

Total

Households
July–December 2011
January–June 2012
July–December 2012
January–June 2013
July–December 2013
January–June 2014
July–December 2014
95% confidence interval1

19,311
20,608
21,709
19,765
21,512
22,438
22,023
…

53.4
52.5
50.8
49.5
47.7
44.7
42.7
41.54–43.88

10.2
9.4
8.6
8.5
8.6
8.5
8.4
7.84–9.05

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.10–0.24

0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.05–0.14

34.0
35.8
38.2
39.4
41.0
44.0
45.4
44.21–46.63

2.2
2.1
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.6
3.2
2.85–3.61

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
…

Adults
July–December 2011
January–June 2012
July–December 2012
January–June 2013
July–December 2013
January–June 2014
July–December 2014
95% confidence interval1

36,564
38,896
40,839
37,268
40,173
42,262
41,160
…

57.3
56.1
54.4
52.8
51.5
47.3
45.8
44.61–46.94

8.3
7.8
7.0
6.9
7.0
7.0
7.1
6.56–7.61

Children
July–December 2011
January–June 2012
July–December 2012
January–June 2013
July–December 2013
January–June 2014
July–December 2014
95% confidence interval1

13,028
13,905
14,083
12,932
13,714
14349
13,754
…

54.7
52.7
49.5
48.3
46.4
41.7
39.1
37.48–40.82

4.8
4.5
3.4
3.6
3.8
3.5
3.3
2.70–3.92

Date of interview

N

7/2
d0
we

vie
9,

465
2o. 1

015
3/2

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.08–0.21

0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.05–0.16

32.3
34.0
36.5
38.0
39.1
43.1
44.1
42.92–45.26

1.9
1.9
1.9
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.9
2.53–3.22

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
…

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
–
0.1
0.02–0.56

0.0
–
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.01–0.12

38.1
40.6
45.0
45.4
47.1
52.1
54.1
52.33–55.85

2.2
2.2
1.9
2.6
2.5
2.7
3.4
2.88–3.95

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
…

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less than 0.05.
… Category not applicable.
– Quantity zero.
1

Refers to July–December 2014.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, July 2011–December 2014.

P a g e |5

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 6 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 2. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by selected demographic characteristics and calendar half-years: United States, July 2011–December 2014

Demographic characteristic
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s)
Non-Hispanic white, single race
Non-Hispanic black, single race
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race
Non-Hispanic other, single race
Non-Hispanic multiple race

18–24
25–29
30–34
35–44
45–64
65 and over

Male
Female

Age (years)

Sex

July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

January–June
2014

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

43.3
29.0
36.8
31.6
44.1
36.7

46.5
30.4
37.7
33.4
43.4
40.2

50.5
32.9
39.0
34.4
43.9
45.3

49.9
35.1
39.4
35.2
50.1
46.2

53.1
35.1
42.7
38.1
51.7
45.7

56.1
39.6
44.9
41.3
52.4
52.5

58.6
40.3
45.7
42.3
54.8
53.3

56.26–60.86
38.88–41.72
43.06–48.38
38.73–45.86
44.92–64.31
46.94–59.57

48.6
59.6
50.9
36.8
23.8
8.5

49.5
60.1
55.1
39.1
25.8
10.5

53.2
62.1
56.7
43.5
28.4
11.6

54.3
65.6
59.9
44.5
29.8
12.6

53.0
65.7
59.7
47.8
31.4
13.6

57.8
69.3
64.9
52.5
35.7
15.7

58.0
69.2
67.4
53.7
36.8
17.1

55.45–60.58
66.42–71.82
65.20–69.49
51.85–55.56
35.50–38.21
15.79–18.43

33.7
30.9

35.2
32.9

38.0
35.1

39.7
36.5

40.4
37.9

44.3
41.9

45.7
42.6

44.39–46.94
41.44–43.81

42.4
35.9
38.3
32.2

41.7
37.2
40.6
34.5

41.8
38.8
41.7
35.5

46.6
43.3
45.6
39.0

46.5
44.2
47.1
40.3

44.45–48.51
42.40–46.00
45.61–48.52
38.64–42.06

38.4
34.0
41.9
23.6

41.4
38.6
46.0
25.1

43.5
39.4
48.1
25.2

44.4
40.5
46.3
27.0

48.9
47.6
49.7
29.1

49.9
47.2
53.8
29.7

48.61–51.24
44.63–49.88
48.93–58.69
28.35–31.00

vie
9,

7/2
d0
we

015
3/2

Education
Some high school or less
High school graduate or GED2
Some post-high school, no degree
4-year college degree or higher

34.7
32.7
35.1
27.8

Employment status last week
Working at a job or business
Keeping house
Going to school
Something else (incl. unemployed)

36.8
32.7
40.8
22.3

Household structure
Adult living alone
Unrelated adults, no children
Related adults, no children
Adult(s) with children

41.3
77.5
25.1
35.4

43.0
75.9
27.0
37.2

43.9
76.2
28.2
42.2

46.4
74.7
29.6
43.6

46.6
76.1
31.0
44.8

48.3
73.9
35.3
49.8

49.5
81.3
35.8
50.8

47.46–51.58
75.31–86.10
34.44–37.26
49.00–52.59

Household poverty status3
Poor
Near-poor
Not-poor

51.4
39.6
28.9

51.8
42.3
30.7

54.3
45.9
33.2

54.7
47.5
35.3

56.2
46.1
36.6

59.1
50.8
40.8

59.4
51.1
42.5

56.58–62.21
48.67–53.47
41.09–43.83

465
2o. 1
36.4
33.9
36.7
30.1

N

See footnotes at end of table.

P a g e |6

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 7 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 2. Percentage of adults living in wireless-only households, by selected demographic characteristics and calendar half-years: United States, July 2011–December 2014—Continued
July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

January–June
2014

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

Geographic region4
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

20.6
35.2
35.9
33.0

23.1
37.5
37.2
34.0

23.6
40.6
39.7
37.8

27.1
39.6
41.8
39.0

24.9
43.7
41.9
41.2

27.8
46.9
47.3
43.8

29.5
48.0
47.0
46.9

26.93–32.11
45.62–50.44
45.01–49.09
44.86–49.05

Metropolitan statistical area status
Metropolitan
Not metropolitan

33.6
27.2

35.7
27.1

38.1
30.5

39.5
32.4

40.5
33.7

43.9
39.8

45.7
37.6

44.37–47.03
35.28–39.89

Home ownership status5
Owned or being bought
Renting
Other arrangement

21.2
56.0
40.7

23.2
58.2
37.7

25.4
59.7
49.1

27.2
61.5
42.6

28.5
61.7
49.3

32.9
64.6
52.2

33.1
66.2
49.2

31.95–34.18
64.54–67.84
42.80–55.65

12,350

13,724

15,589

14,512

16,436

18,380

18,740

Demographic characteristic

Number of wireless-only adults in
survey sample (unweighted)

Refers to July–December 2014.

2

…

vie
9,

… Category not applicable.
1

7/2
d0
we

015
3/2

GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

465
2o. 1

Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near-poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold.
“Not-poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and
imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household
income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.
3

N

In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau: Northeast includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, and Vermont; Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; and West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming.
4

For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or
being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.
5

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, July 2011–December 2014.

P a g e |7

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 8 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 3. Percent distributions of selected demographic characteristics for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, July 2011–December 2014

Demographic characteristic
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s)
Non-Hispanic white, single race
Non-Hispanic black, single race
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race
Non-Hispanic other, single race
Non-Hispanic multiple race
Total
18–24
25–29
30–34
35–44
45–64
65 and over
Total
Male
Female
Total

Age (years)

Sex

July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

19.1
61.0
13.1
4.7
0.9
1.3
100.0

20.3
59.6
12.7
5.1
0.8
1.5
100.0

20.6
59.7
12.3
4.9
0.8
1.6
100.0

19.7
61.0
12.0
5.0
0.9
1.5
100.0

20.5
59.2
12.6
5.2
1.0
1.4
100.0

19.4
17.0
14.0
19.2
25.8
4.6
100.0

18.9
15.5
14.0
19.5
26.7
5.5
100.0

18.9
14.8
13.4
20.0
27.1
5.7
100.0

18.4
15.2
13.5
19.7
27.2
6.0
100.0

17.4
14.8
13.3
20.4
27.8
6.4
100.0

50.7
49.3
100.0

49.8
50.2
100.0

50.1
49.9
100.0

50.3
49.7
100.0

15.2
27.1
33.3
24.5
100.0

16.1
27.4
31.8
24.6
100.0

465
2o. 1

19.8
60.4
12.1
5.2
0.9
1.6
100.0

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

20.3
60.0
12.1
5.3
0.7
1.5
100.0

18.77–22.02
58.29–61.62
11.15–13.19
4.75–5.85
0.54–1.01
1.29–1.82
…

17.1
14.1
13.1
20.3
28.6
6.8
100.0

16.6
13.9
13.2
20.1
28.8
7.3
100.0

15.67–17.65
13.14–14.69
12.53–14.00
19.30–20.99
27.73–29.86
6.73–7.93
…

49.7
50.3
100.0

49.6
50.4
100.0

49.9
50.1
100.0

49.28–50.59
49.41–50.72
…

15.0
26.7
32.6
25.8
100.0

14.5
26.9
32.4
26.2
100.0

14.7
27.2
32.2
25.9
100.0

13.9
26.9
31.9
27.3
100.0

13.11–14.82
25.71–28.04
30.96–32.83
26.05–28.60
…

015
3/2

7/2
d0
we

vie
9,

January–June
2014

Education
Some high school or less
High school graduate or GED2
Some post-high school, no degree
4-year college degree or higher
Total

15.2
28.2
32.7
23.9
100.0

Employment status last week
Working at a job or business
Keeping house
Going to school
Something else (incl. unemployed)
Unknown, not reported
Total

69.0
5.6
4.0
20.6
0.7
100.0

69.3
5.3
4.3
20.2
0.9
100.0

68.9
5.8
4.0
20.5
0.9
100.0

69.7
5.9
4.4
19.2
0.7
100.0

70.1
5.7
3.6
19.8
0.8
100.0

69.3
6.4
4.1
19.5
0.9
100.0

70.1
6.0
4.0
19.1
0.9
100.0

69.14–71.10
5.59–6.42
3.46–4.52
18.18–19.99
0.64–1.14
…

Household structure
Adult living alone
Unrelated adults, no children
Related adults, no children
Adult(s) with children
Total

19.8
4.0
35.8
40.5
100.0

18.9
3.8
36.9
40.4
100.0

18.6
3.1
35.7
42.6
100.0

18.8
3.2
35.8
42.2
100.0

18.6
2.9
36.9
41.6
100.0

17.0
2.5
38.8
41.8
100.0

17.5
2.9
37.9
41.6
100.0

16.59–18.51
2.33–3.68
36.66–39.24
40.14–43.07
…

N

See footnotes at end of table.
P a g e |8

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 9 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 3. Percent distribution of selected demographic characteristics for adults living in wireless-only households, by date of interview: United States, July 2011–December 2014—Continued

Demographic characteristic

July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

January–June
2014

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

Household poverty status3
Poor
Near-poor
Not-poor
Unknown, not reported
Total

15.9
18.2
46.2
19.8
100.0

15.0
17.7
47.1
20.2
100.0

15.4
18.0
46.1
20.6
100.0

13.9
17.8
48.5
19.7
100.0

14.1
16.6
47.8
21.5
100.0

13.0
16.7
49.4
20.8
100.0

13.6
15.9
49.3
21.3
100.0

12.62–14.63
15.00–16.84
47.80–50.70
19.92–22.65
…

Geographic region4
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
Total

11.7
25.2
39.9
23.3
100.0

12.4
24.5
40.4
22.8
100.0

11.7
24.8
40.1
23.4
100.0

12.6
23.1
40.8
23.6
100.0

11.3
25.1
39.9
23.8
100.0

11.1
25.0
41.1
22.9
100.0

12.0
24.3
39.9
23.8
100.0

10.59–13.51
22.46–26.22
37.83–42.01
22.13–25.62
…

Metropolitan statistical area status
Metropolitan
Not metropolitan
Total

82.3
17.7
100.0

83.9
16.1
100.0

82.6
17.4
100.0

82.8
17.2
100.0

81.6
18.4
100.0

83.1
16.9
100.0

81.36–84.78
15.22–18.64
…

Home ownership status5
Owned or being bought
Renting
Other arrangement
Total

44.2
53.3
2.5
100.0

46.5
51.2
2.3
100.0

46.6
50.9
2.6
100.0

13,724

15,589

Number of wireless-only adults in
survey sample (unweighted)
… Category not applicable.

vie
9,

465
2o. 1

12,350

ed
w

015
3/2

7/2
0
82.6
17.4
100.0

48.0
49.6
2.4
100.0

48.5
49.1
2.4
100.0

51.1
46.4
2.6
100.0

49.5
48.4
2.1
100.0

47.80–51.16
46.78–50.08
1.75–2.51
…

14,512

16,436

18,380

18,740

…

N

1

Refers to July–December 2014.

2

GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near-poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold.
“Not-poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and
imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household
income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.
3

In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau: Northeast includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, and Vermont; Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; and West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming.
4

For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or
being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.
5

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, July 2011–December 2014.

P a g e |9

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 10 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 4. Prevalence rates (and 95% confidence intervals) for selected measures of health-related behaviors, health status, health care service use, and health care access for adults aged 18 and over,
by household telephone status: United States, July–December 2014
Measure

Wireless-only

Landline1

Health-related behaviors
At least one heavy drinking day in past year2
Current smoker3
Met the 2008 federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity through
leisure-time aerobic activity4

19.6 (18.28-20.91)
12.7 (11.55-13.93)

Phoneless

34.7 (33.23-36.19)

30.3 (28.67-32.04)
20.2 (18.96-21.49)
(39.47-42.65)
41.0

25.4 (20.86-30.63)
21.3 (16.75-26.66)
34.8 (29.88-39.97)

Health status
Health status described as excellent or very good5
Experienced serious psychological distress in past 30 days6
Obese (adults aged 20 and over)7
Asthma episode in past year8
Ever diagnosed with diabetes9

59.3
3.0
30.7
3.3
11.2

64.1
3.4
29.1
3.4
6.5

61.3
3.5
21.8
*2.6
8.8

Health care service use
Received influenza vaccine during past year10
Ever been tested for HIV11

48.5 (46.98-49.95)
31.5 (30.02-33.07)

Health care access
Has a usual place to go for medical care12
Failed to obtain needed medical care in past year due to financial barriers13
Currently uninsured (adults aged 18–64)14

90.8 (89.90-91.59)
4.9 (4.28-5.59)
10.9 (9.66-12.21)
8,954

(62.51-65.71)
(2.99-3.96)
(27.74-30.58)
(2.94-3.91)
(5.85-7.17)

015
3/2

7/2
d0
we

vie
9,

465
2o. 1

Number of adults in survey sample (unweighted)

(57.87-60.72)
(2.54-3.58)
(29.30-32.07)
(2.84-3.77)
(10.27-12.11)

(55.85-66.48)
(2.14-5.79)
(17.68-26.54)
(1.19-5.72)
(6.51-11.88)

34.5 (32.99-36.09)
44.2 (42.56-45.89)

34.3 (28.95-40.05)
38.3 (32.92-44.06)

80.2 (78.98-81.45)
8.8 (8.03-9.68)
18.7 (17.40-20.05)

79.7 (74.88-83.73)
9.0 (6.34-12.52)
19.7 (15.68-24.39)

8,714

582

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet standards for reliability or precision.
1

Includes households that also have wireless telephone service.

Before 2014, the alcohol consumption estimates presented in Early Release Program reports were for the percentage of adults aged 18 and over who had five or more drinks in 1 day at least once in the past year, regardless of sex. However, in 2014, the
survey questions were changed; male and female respondents were asked about a different quantity of alcoholic drinks consumed in a day in the past year. As a result, the estimates presented here are for men aged 18 and over who had five or more drinks in
1 day at least once in the past year and women aged 18 and over who had four or more drinks in 1 day at least once in the past year. A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded adults with unknown alcohol consumption
(about 2%).
2

3

N

A person who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime and now smokes every day or some days. The analyses excluded adults with unknown smoking status (about 2%).

This measure reflects an estimate of regular leisure-time aerobic activity motivated by the 2008 federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/), which are being used in setting Healthy People 2020 objectives
(http://www.healthypeople.gov). The 2008 guidelines refer to any kind of aerobic activity, but estimates in this table are limited to leisure-time physical activity only. These leisure-time aerobic activity estimates may therefore underestimate the percentage
of adults who met the 2008 guidelines for aerobic activity. The 2008 federal guidelines recommend that for substantial health benefits, adults perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 minutes a week of
vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. The 2008 guidelines also state that aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes and preferably should
be spread throughout the week. The analyses excluded adults with unknown physical activity participation (about 3%).
4

Health status data were obtained by asking respondents to assess their own health and that of family members living in the same household as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. The analyses excluded persons with unknown health status (about
0.2%).
5

Six psychological distress questions are included in the National Health Interview Survey. These questions ask how often during the past 30 days a respondent experienced certain symptoms of psychological distress (feeling so sad that nothing could cheer
you up, nervous, restless or fidgety, hopeless, worthless, that everything was an effort). The response codes (0–4) of the six items for each person were weighted equally and summed. A value of 13 or more for this scale indicates that at least one symptom was
experienced “most of the time” or “all of the time” and is used here to define serious psychological distress. The analyses excluded adults with unknown serious psychological distress status (about 3%).
6

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more. The measure is based on self-reported height and weight. The analyses excluded adults with unknown height or weight (about 6%). Estimates of obesity are presented for adults aged 20 and
over because the Healthy People 2020 objectives (http://www.healthypeople.gov) for healthy weight among adults define adults as persons aged 20 and over.
7

Information on an episode of asthma or an asthma attack during the past year is self-reported by adults aged 18 and over. A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded persons with unknown asthma episode status (about
0.1%).
8

Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is based on self-report of ever having been diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor or other health professional. Persons reporting “borderline” diabetes status and women reporting diabetes only during pregnancy were not
coded as having diabetes in the analyses. The analyses excluded adults with unknown diabetes status (about 0.1%).
9

P a g e | 10

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 11 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Receipt of flu shots and receipt of nasal spray flu vaccinations were included in the calculation of flu vaccination estimates. Responses to these two flu vaccination questions do not indicate when the subject received the flu vaccination during the 12 months
preceding the interview. In addition, estimates are subject to recall error, which will vary depending on when the question is asked because the receipt of a flu vaccination is seasonal. The analyses excluded adults with unknown flu vaccination status (about
3%).
10

11

Individuals who received human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing solely as a result of blood donation were considered not to have been tested for HIV. The analyses excluded adults with unknown HIV test status (about 5%).

12

Does not include a hospital emergency room. The analyses excluded persons with an unknown usual place to go for medical care (about 5%).

13

A year is defined as the 12 months prior to interview. The analyses excluded persons with unknown responses to the question on failure to obtain needed medical care due to cost (about 0.2%).

A person was defined as uninsured if he or she did not have any private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), state-sponsored or other government-sponsored health plan, or military plan at the time of interview.
A person was also defined as uninsured if he or she had only Indian Health Service coverage or had only a private plan that paid for one type of service such as accidents or dental care. The data on health insurance status were edited using an automated
system based on logic checks and keyword searches. The analyses excluded adults with unknown health insurance status (about 1%).
14

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014.

015
3/2

7/2
d0
we

vie
9,

465
2o. 1

N

P a g e | 11

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 12 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 5. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by selected demographic characteristics and calendar half-years: United States, July 2011–December 2014
July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

January–June
2014

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

Total

17.8

17.6

18.0

17.7

18.3

16.6

16.9

16.06–17.70

Race/ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino, any race(s)
Non-Hispanic white, single race
Non-Hispanic black, single race
Non-Hispanic Asian, single race
Non-Hispanic other, single race
Non-Hispanic, multiple race

17.0
17.9
17.1
20.3
15.6
21.7

16.1
17.6
17.6
21.5
15.1
18.7

17.4
17.7
18.6
22.2
12.5
18.0

16.4
17.4
19.0
20.9
22.7
18.0

16.6
18.6
18.2
20.4
14.1
16.9

14.6
16.8
16.9
19.5
11.0
16.3

14.2
17.2
17.5
19.4
*10.3
17.0

12.76–15.78
16.17–18.32
15.76–19.34
16.91–22.24
5.52–18.30
12.69–22.37

18.9
15.8
21.2
19.9
8.9

20.1
15.0
20.7
19.3
8.9

18.2
17.0
21.2
20.3
9.1

18.6
14.8
20.7
19.8
10.3

20.0
14.5
20.0
21.6
10.3

18.1
11.8
17.6
20.0
10.2

17.7
13.5
17.2
20.6
10.6

15.79–19.88
11.62–15.60
16.07–18.33
19.56–21.77
9.60–11.59

18.3
17.3

17.9
17.3

18.3
17.7

17.8
17.6

18.6
18.0

16.7
16.5

17.1
16.7

16.22–17.99
15.84–17.50

11.6
16.3
19.3
21.5

12.8
16.0
18.6
20.7

12.4
16.5
18.9
22.3

12.4
14.3
17.3
20.1

11.0
14.5
17.7
20.8

9.47–12.65
13.45–15.70
16.58–18.93
19.55–22.21

20.6
15.5
23.7
10.8

21.1
17.5
18.2
11.6

20.2
19.0
22.2
11.7

21.4
16.9
21.1
11.4

18.9
15.9
20.5
11.2

19.5
16.8
19.0
10.9

18.49–20.51
14.96–18.87
15.89–22.52
10.06–11.82

Demographic characteristic

18–24
25–29
30–44
45–64
65 and over

Age (years)

Male
Female

Sex

vie
9,

23/
07/
ed
w

015
2

Education
Some high school or less
High school graduate or GED2
Some post-high school, no degree
4-year college degree or higher

11.7
15.7
19.4
21.4

Employment status last week
Working at a job or business
Keeping house
Going to school
Something else (incl. unemployed)

20.9
16.6
20.0
11.4

Household structure
Adult living alone
Unrelated adults, no children
Related adults, no children
Adult(s) with children

10.1
10.3
16.9
22.5

10.2
13.0
16.2
22.4

9.8
12.3
17.4
22.4

9.5
12.9
17.0
22.2

9.4
11.2
18.1
22.6

9.3
9.2
15.9
20.8

9.3
5.5
17.3
20.0

8.36–10.27
3.11–9.63
16.21–18.50
18.68–21.45

8.8
13.5
21.9

10.8
11.1
21.5

8.6
12.7
21.8

10.8
12.0
21.4

9.1
12.0
22.1

9.1
10.6
20.0

8.4
12.0
19.4

7.09–9.88
10.54–13.74
18.36–20.44

Household poverty status3

Poor
Near-poor
Not-poor

465
2o. 1
11.9
15.5
19.1
21.0

N

See footnotes at end of table.

P a g e | 12

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015

Appeal: 12-4659

Doc: 170-6

Filed: 08/05/2015

Pg: 13 of 13

Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2014

Table 5. Percentage of adults living in wireless-mostly households, by selected demographic characteristics and calendar half-years: United States, July 2011–December 2014—Continued
July–December
2011

January–June
2012

July–December
2012

January–June
2013

July–December
2013

January–June
2014

July–December
2014

95% confidence
interval1

Geographic region4
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

17.9
16.6
17.7
19.1

18.9
15.5
17.3
18.9

20.0
15.3
17.7
19.3

18.2
16.7
17.0
19.4

20.1
16.2
18.0
19.3

18.7
14.5
16.0
18.1

21.4
14.6
16.2
16.5

19.41–23.57
12.95–16.45
14.93–17.65
15.13–17.95

Metropolitan statistical area status
Metropolitan
Not metropolitan

18.2
16.4

17.9
16.4

18.5
15.8

17.9
17.0

18.7
16.7

16.9
15.5

17.0
16.2

16.13–17.95
14.45–18.20

Home ownership status5
Owned or being bought
Renting
Other arrangement

19.9
13.5
11.7

19.9
12.7
13.8

20.1
13.0
17.3

20.0
12.8
17.0

21.0
12.4
14.8

19.0
11.1
12.8

19.9
11.0
12.1

18.88–20.99
9.94–12.06
8.58–16.71

20,184

21,100

21,194

19,106

22,879

19,608

18,040

Demographic characteristic

Number of adults in survey sample
who live in landline households with
wireless telephones (unweighted)

… Category not applicable.

465
2o. 1

Refers to July–December 2014.

2

…

vie
9,

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet standards for reliability or precision.
1

23/
07/
ed
w

015
2

GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

Based on household income and household size using the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. “Poor” persons are defined as those below the poverty threshold. “Near-poor” persons have incomes of 100% to less than 200% of the poverty threshold.
“Not-poor” persons have incomes of 200% of the poverty threshold or greater. Early Release estimates stratified by poverty status are based on reported income only and may differ from similar estimates produced later that are based on both reported and
imputed income. NCHS imputes income when income is unknown, but the imputed income file is not available until a few months after the annual release of National Health Interview Survey microdata. For households with multiple families, household
income and household size were calculated as the sum of the multiple measures of family income and family size.
3

N

In the geographic classification of the U.S. population, states are grouped into the following four regions used by the U.S. Census Bureau: Northeast includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, and Vermont; Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; and West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming.
4

For households with multiple families, home ownership status was determined by considering the reported home ownership status for each family. If any family reported owning the home, then the household-level variable was classified as “Owned or
being bought” for all persons living in the household. If one family reported renting the home and another family reported “other arrangement,” then the household-level variable was classified as “Other arrangement” for all persons living in the household.
5

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
DATA SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, July 2011–December 2014.

P a g e | 13

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ● National Center for Health Statistics ● Released 06/2015