Census numbers released at pivotal time

WASHINGTON- The number of Americans without health insurance rose to 46.3 million last year when people lost their jobs and  health coverage as a result of the recession. In addition, the poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, which is an 11-year high.

The numbers, gathered by the Census Bureau, offer a glimpse of the well-being of Americans for 2008 which was the first full year of the recession. These numbers were released at a pivotal time in the president’s debate over health care. Analysts say that the grim numbers of 2008 could still understate the reality of the economic impact in the first half of 2009, when unemployment was still rising.