For the second consecutive year, the number of U.S. citizens without health
insurance has increased, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2006, the number of Americans who lack coverage rose to 47 million, or 15.8 percent  of the population, an increase from 44.8 million in 2005. The percentage and number of children under 18 years old without health insurance also increased. In 2006, 8.7 million children, or 11.7 percent of the population, were uninsured, up from 8 million children the previous year. For more information, please visit http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf.