17.3 percent of Oregonians lack health insurance

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — New U.S. Census figures show an estimated 621,000 Oregonians, 17.3 percent of the population, without health insurance in 2006 and 2007, up from 15.9 percent from 2004-2005 based on two-year averages.

The national average is 15.4 percent.

Figures released in two reports on Tuesday show Oregon’s median income growing from $47,388 to $48,730 in 2007, below the national average of $50,740.

The figures also show a poverty rate of 12.9 percent, representing 474,000 Oregonians, down from 13.3 percent in 2006.

Oregon’s rise in income and the drop in the percentage of people in poverty generally reflect national trends.

Oregon ranked 13th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the percentage of uninsured residents.