Some fear national health coverage gains may be short-lived

Although the Census Bureau’s annual report on poverty and health coverage showed the number of uninsured Americans went down slightly from 2006 to 2007, there is reason to believe the trend may be short-lived (Source: "Economy may stall push for health care,” USA Today, Aug. 27, 2008).

The increase in the number of Americans with health insurance is primarily a result of states expanding programs, such as Medicaid and SCHIP, that provide coverage to low-income residents. In fact, 26 states expanded eligibility for Medicaid in 2007.

However, given the ongoing budget challenges at the state level, economists and health experts are concerned that government spending will be cut. "In good times, states expand programs, and in bad economic times … they scale them back," said Diane Rowland of the Kaiser Family Foundation.