Data Products » Restricted Data

Overview

Are you planning to use one or more of the restricted data products distributed by the Health and Retirement Study? Begin by inspecting the What's Available and Order Form pages to see the list of available restricted data products. Then review the following step-by-step flowchart (or text narrative) which outlines procedures for preparing and submitting the Restricted Data Application that must be approved in order for you to obtain these files. For details on merge restrictions, please review the HRS File Merge Cross-Reference Table.

In preparing your data protection plan, be sure to refer to the Data Protection Plan Checklist (last update, December 2011) as well as The Restricted Data Environment: Issues Relating to Network-Connected Clients.

Special procedures must be followed to obtain Medicare data for HRS respondents. See the HRS Medicare Claims and Summary Data page for information on how to apply for (and pay for) these data. Users with content questions may wish to review the HRS-Medicare Data Dictionaries, which contain variable definitions and frequencies for the Standard, Provider and Geographic Releases.