More in US go without health cover

THE number of people without health insurance in the US rose to 43.6 million last year, a jump of almost 6% from 2001 and the second consecutive annual increase.

The ranks of the uninsured swelled by 2.4 million as insurance costs kept rising and more Americans lost their jobs and health care coverage, the US Census Bureau said yesterday.

The percentage of Americans without health coverage rose from 14.6 to 15.2.

The bureau reported a survey last week that found that more people fell into poverty and average income declined in 2002, even though the recession officially ended in November 2001.

Reflecting the broad scope of the recession and its aftermath, significant increases in uninsured rates occurred among whites, blacks, people aged 18 to 64, and middle- and higher-income earners.

A survey released this month from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy research group, found that private health premiums increased 13.9% between 2002 and 2003. A family policy, on average, cost $9,068.

Loss of coverage stemming from layoffs and scaled-back benefits was primarily to blame, Census Bureau analyst Robert Mills said. In 2002, 61.3% of US residents were covered under an employment-based policy, down from 62.6% in 2001.

The latest data comes amid recent signs of an economic resurgence. The US Commerce Department reported on Monday that consumer spending rose a strong 0.8% in August after a 0.9% surge in July.

Americans’ disposable incomes, or what’s left after taxes, also rose 0.9% in August after a 1.5% jump the previous month.

The government credited the increase to President Bush’s tax cuts, which lowered federal taxes and boosted people’s take-home pay.