More Americans Lacked Health Insurance in 2008

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Census Bureau said the number of uninsured Americans increased in 2008 to 46.3 million, compared to 45.7 million in 2007.

The bureau also said the U.S poverty rate of 13.2% in 2008 was an increase from 12.5% in 2007. This was the largest annual poverty rate increase since 2004, the bureau said. The statistics released Thursday cover the first full year of the current recession. The median -- or midpoint -- household income declined slightly to $50,303.

The data underscore the need to revamp the U.S. health-care system, President Barack Obama said, adding that more recent surveys show that the situation has grown worse since the recession deepened last September.

"Over the last 12 months, it's estimated that the ranks of the uninsured have swelled by nearly six million. That's 17,000 men and women every single day," the president said in remarks at the White House.

No kidding! With mortgage debacle and infrastructure collapsing everywhere, people are losing jobs and insurance; and companies are going out of business - companies that once provided insurance.

This is such a “duh” moment, what can I say? And the Dems are a big part of the problem. I still think they caused all of this mess with their manipulative games.

I’m totally confused, is it 47 million, is it 30 million, who’s on first? I mean we are talking a 30%+ difference here. And this is exactly the way the government will handle everything. What’s a little 30% mistake when you are playing with the taxpayers $$$, why it’s nothing at all.

“Lies, damn lies, statistics, and (a new category) Obama statistics...”

You betcha!
“Over the last 12 months, it’s estimated that the ranks of the uninsured have swelled by nearly six million. That’s 17,000 men and women every single day,” the president said in remarks at the White House.”

This latest Census report shows the number of uninsured rose 600,000 between March 2008 and March 2009, i.e., 50,000 a month rather than the 500,000 a month implied by Obama. Lies, damn lies, statistics, and (a new category) Obama statistics...http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/census20090910.pdf

Technically, this survey asks about coverage during calendar year 2008, but it’s long been established that the people answering the questions essentially are giving their health insurance status as of the day of the interview (i.e., March 2009, not calendar 2008). It’s highly dubious that the rate of losing insurance rose ten-fold between last March and today. A diligent news media would challenge Obama on his ridiculous claims.

Moreover, Obama doesn’t dare tell you that the RATE of being uninsured declined from a high of 15.8% 2 years ago to 15.4% in this latest report (Table C-1). That would get in the way of his story that we’re in the midst of a an awful CRISIS that must be solved NOW before anyone has a chance to read the 1,000-page bill.

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