6.6 million Californians went without
health insurance in 2004-2006

From the Globe Health Desk

Between 2004 and 2006, 6.6 million Californians did not have health insurance coverage, according to new data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau, which averaged the uninsurance rate over the three-year period. Nationally, the number of uninsured people in 2006 increased by over 2 million since 2005.
   “The health insurance numbers are of particular interest here in California, given the current movement to pass a health care bill in these last three weeks of the legislative session,” said Nancy Berlin of the California Partnership. “Clearly, now is the time for health care reform in California.”
    The number of uninsured children from birth through age 18 rose for the second year in a row. There are more than 9.4 million uninsured children in America.
    While both houses of Congress have passed bipartisan expansions of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that would provide health coverage to millions of uninsured children — a fiveyear, $35 billion expansion in the Senate and a stronger $50 billion version in the House — President Bush has threatened to veto the bills. Recently, the Bush administration released new SCHIP rules that will force at least 19 states and Washington, D.C. to drop children from SCHIPprograms and effectively prevent other states from expanding health coverage to many more uninsured children.
   “As the last three weeks of the legislative session unfold, the new data show that we still face a number of challenges,” said Berlin. “Our leaders can take an immediate step to address at least one of these problems by agreeing on a plan to expand health care for all Californians.”