Number, Percentage of Uninsured U.S. Residents Decreased in 2007, Including Among Some Minority Groups, According to U.S. Census Bureau
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).