More people in Nebraska, Iowa lacking health insurance

from the Omaha World Herald

The perspective from the farm belt. The numbers with health insurance dropped by 1 million since the Bush administration began. - Kale

BY CINDY GONZALEZ

The percentage of people in Nebraska and Iowa lacking health insurance is rising, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday.

The figures compare the 2006-2007 average with the average of 2004-2005.

The census figures show that 12.8 percent of Nebraskans were without health insurance coverage in the most current two years, up from 10.5 percent.

In Iowa, the percentage of uninsured went from 8.7 percent to 9.9 percent.

Nebraska and Iowa were among 10 states that had a rate increase.

Both states' rates of uninsured still falls below the nationwide 2006-2007 average of 15.5 percent. The percentage of Americans without insurance in 2005-2004 was 15.1 percent.

The data are part of a new census report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States.

The report says both the number and percentage of people without health insurance nationally decreased in the one year period between 2006 and 2007.

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