This week, the U.S. Census Bureau released data for 2022. It paints a clearer picture of Americans’ economic situations as the Biden Administration ends pandemic benefit programs. WMRA's Henry Brannan has more.
The U.S. supplemental poverty rate grew to more than 12 percent from 2021. That’s an increase of about 5% – the largest since the measure was developed more than 50 years ago. That rise is tied to the end of many pandemic-era social programs like increased SNAP benefits.
Virginia-specific numbers have not yet been released. But state-specific health insurance numbers show more than 60,000 Virginians gained coverage last year, slightly lowering the uninsured rate.
The Census Bureau attributed the change to growth in Virginia’s public plans like Medicaid. But those gains will be reversed. Millions of Americans are in the process of being kicked off Medicaid as the federal government returns to pre-pandemic enrollment rules.
For WMRA News, I’m Henry Brannan.
Henry Brannan’s reporting is in partnership with VPM News and Report for America.
