The U.S. Census Bureau released the consolidated 2006 report on money income, poverty and health insurance coverage for the nation. The report shows that the number of uninsured people in the United States has increased.
The data are derived from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey (CPS). Simultaneously, the Census Bureau will release data on income, earnings and poverty from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) for all areas within the United States with a population of 65,000 or greater.
The Census Bureau's CPS-ASEC produces the official national estimates of poverty, as well as estimates of money income and health insurance coverage, collecting detailed information on income sources. In addition to the national-level data, the CPS-ASEC consolidated report provides state-level health insurance estimates. Annual state estimates of median household income and poverty will be available in the ACS report.
The Census Bureau simultaneously releases the CPS and ACS income and poverty measures because together the two surveys cover the range of geographic areas from the nation to counties, cities, congressional districts and metro areas.
Also useful when looking at these numbers:
Comparing federal government surveys that count uninsured people in America
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have issued this brief comparing estimates of health insurance coverage from three national surveys sponsored by the federal government, identifying the differences in their estimates of uninsurance and identifying two common themes.