proc genmod estimate statement question

hi,

i run the following code to transform a categorical variable.

DATA nb;
SET nb;
IF (numchron =0) THEN chronic = 0;
IF (numchron =1) THEN chronic = 1;
IF (numchron =2) or (numchron =3) or (numchron =4) or (numchron =5) or (numchron =6) or (numchron =7) or (numchron = 8) THEN chronic = 2;
RUN;


Then I run the following poisson regression:


proc genmod data= nb;
class chronic (ref = "0" param=ref );
class education (ref = "0" param=ref);

model ofp = education privins chronic /dist = poisson
link=log;

OUTPUT OUT=resid predicted=pred RESCHI=reschi RESDEV=resdev RESLIK=reslik
RESRAW=resraw STDRESCHI=stdresc STDRESDEV=stdresd;

estimate "log estimate education 1-11" education 0 /exp; /* reference */
estimate "log estimate education grad HS" education 1 /exp; /* this line gives exp of beta */
estimate "log estimate education BeyondHS" education 2 /exp; /* this line gives exp of beta */

estimate "log estimate" privins 1 /exp; /* this line gives exp of beta */

estimate "log estimate 0 illness" chronic 0 /exp; /* */
estimate "log estimate 1 illness" chronic 1 /exp; /* */
estimate "log estimate 2+ illnesses" chronic 2 /exp; /* */
run;





I'm concern with my estimate statement
The manner which I wrote it:

estimate "log estimate 0 illness" chronic 0 /exp; /* reference */
estimate "log estimate 1 illness" chronic 1 /exp; /* 1 chronic illness */
estimate "log estimate 2+ illnesses" chronic 2 /exp; /* 2+ chronic illnes */

Does chronic '1' in the estimate statement "estimate "log estimate 1 illness" chronic 1 /exp; /" actually obtain the log estimate of the chronic '1' category ? Likewise, does "estimate "log estimate 2+ illnesses" chronic 2 /exp;" obtain the log estimate for the chronic '2' category using '0' as reference?

Very confused. The results that are returned make sense, code works, just have a lingering doubt.

Thanks for all the help