More Americans, Including More Children, Now Lack Health Insurance

In 2006, the number of uninsured Americans rose to 47.0 million, and the number of uninsured children rose to 8.7 million, according to Census data. This policy brief, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, reviews trends in health insurance and coverage through Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Low-income adults are more likely to be uninsured, as around 25 percent of people with incomes below $25,000 were uninsured in 2006, which is almost triple the rate among people with incomes over $75,000.