Family Health Survey: Information for Participants
Have you been contacted to participate in the Family Health Survey?
Calls for the Family Health Survey take place throughout the year. Wisconsin landline and cell phone numbers are randomly selected to receive a call from our contractor, the University of Wisconsin Survey Center. Calling takes place seven days a week, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you would like to arrange a callback time or have questions before you participate, call 800-291-8624.
Why your participation matters
Your assistance is vital to our efforts to collect high-quality data and provide the public with robust health-related information. Taking part in the survey is voluntary but very important to make sure that the results truly represent the people of Wisconsin. We recognize that some people may be hesitant to answer questions from strangers or may have concerns about providing personal information in a survey. While we may ask personal health-related questions, we will never ask for your date of birth, social security number, credit card information, or other personally identifiable information.
Frequently asked questions
The Family Health Survey is a statewide survey, but we cannot contact every household in the state. Every year, we randomly choose which households to talk with in each county.
If you choose to participate, your household will be one of 2,400 this year.
The Family Health Survey is one of the primary sources of statewide detailed information about health insurance coverage and health care utilization. We also collect information about health conditions and household demographics.
We do not collect any personally identifiable information.
The Family Health Survey is based on a sample representative of the state and provides reliable information about the population.
Our survey provides scientific data to public health researchers and policymakers.
While we may ask personal health-related questions and standard demographic questions, we do not collect any identifiable information like your birthdate, social security number, or credit card information. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of the call you received, contact us at DHSFHS@
Legitimate surveys conducted on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services will include the following:
- A statement introducing the topic of the survey
- A statement confirming that the survey is being conducted on behalf of the Department of Health Services
- The ability to provide you with the name and phone number for general questions related to participation
- The ability to provide you with the name and phone number of the state employee responsible for the survey
We value your time and participation in our effort to understand the health and health care of Wisconsin residents.
Taking part in the survey is voluntary, however, your participation ensures we represent all types of Wisconsin residents in our statewide estimates.
There are no required questions, however, we request that you answer all questions to the best of your knowledge.
Doing so helps us get the most accurate data about the health of all types of Wisconsin residents.
The length of the call will depend on the number of household members that live with you. Usually, the calls take between 20 and 40 minutes.
Your services from the Department of Health Services will not be affected if you choose to participate or if you choose to not participate in the Family Health Survey.
The survey is anonymous and voluntary.
Our interviewers are trained to conduct the survey in both English and Spanish.
Your phone number was randomly selected from all working telephone numbers in your area. Since we are not marketing any products, the Do Not Call List does not pertain to us.
If you have questions about the Family Health Survey, you can email DHSFHS@