Number, Percentage Of Uninsured U.S. Residents Decreased In 2007, Including Among Some Minority Groups, According To U.S. Census Bureau

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 29 Aug 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The number and percentage of uninsured U.S. residents declined in 2007 to 45.7 million people, or 15.3% of the population, according to an annual U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday, USA Today reports (Cauchon/Appleby, USA Today, 8/27). In 2006, 47 million people, or 15.8% of the population, were uninsured (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Kansas City Star, 8/26). For the report, researchers analyzed data from the Current Population Survey of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. (U.S. Census Bureau release, 8/26).

The survey also found that uninsurance rates differed by race:

• 32.1% of Hispanics were uninsured in 2007, down from 34.1% in 2006, remaining the group with the highest percentage of uninsured;
  
  
• Blacks' rate decreased from 20.5% to 19.5% during the period;
  
  
• Asian-Americans' rate increased from 15.5% in 2006 to 16.8% in 2007; and
  
  
• Whites' rate declined from 10.8% to 10.4%, and the (New York Times graphic, 8/27).

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