According to a U.S. Census Bureau report (pdf), the number of people relying on government health insurance climbed from 83 million to 87.4 million between 2007 and 2008. The data also indicate that growing unemployment is contributing to a rising poverty rate and a declining number of people who receive insurance through their employers.

“If you look at the data,” says Carol Regan, PHI Government Affairs Director, “you can see the critical role that public programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ insurance have been playing for millions of American families.

“It’s more important than ever to achieve health reform that will offer secure coverage for those currently with insurance as well as the growing numbers of unemployed and uninsured.”

The census report also shows that the number of uninsured children has fallen to its lowest level in twenty years, thanks, in part, to the effectiveness of public programs that provide coverage for children like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Jocelyn Guyer of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University — and the author of a report examining how states are providing health coverage to children — says that while this data is encouraging, “the health and wellbeing of children… can also be dramatically affected by the health of their parents and the financial stability of their families.”

To continue the positive momentum for children, says Guyer, “Congress should quickly pass meaningful health reform legislation.”

Analysts expect the next round of data in 2010 to show still higher poverty rates and more Americans going without insurance.