WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Participation in government health insurance programs -- particularly those aimed at children -- increased from 2006 to 2007, leading to a decrease in the number of Americans lacking insurance, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday. The Census Bureau says 15.3 percent of Americans lacked health insurance in 2007. Overall, 45.7 million people, or 15.3 percent of U.S. residents, did not have health insurance in 2007, the bureau said in releasing reports on poverty, income and insurance. That represents a decrease from the 2006 level of 47 million, or 15.8 percent. The decrease came as a surprise, as the number of uninsured Americans had been expected to rise for a seventh straight year. It also gives a boost to proponents of expanding government health-care plans such as the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.
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Census: 45.7 million Americans uninsured in 2007, down from 47 million in 2006
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Decrease a surprise, number was expected to increase for seventh straight year
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Findings will give boost to backers of expanded government health-care plans
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Real median household income increased 1.3 percent nationwide, Census finds
However, people must lack health insurance for a year before being counted as "uninsured" by the @placeholder, meaning the actual number could be higher.