But the number of people without health insurance continues to climb, proof that economic expansion alone won't cure America's health care woes, say advocates for the poor who downplay signs of increasing prosperity.
The census data are proof that recovery from the 2001 recession has not been a strong one, particularly for low- and medium-wage workers, said Sarah Wilhelm, an advocate at Voices for Utah Children. "There's the thought that a rising tide raises all boats, and that clearly isn't true."
In 2005, 37 million Americans, or 12.6 percent of the population, lived in poverty. That figure is down from 12.7 percent in 2004.
Utah's indigent rate also remained flat, hovering in the 10 percent range.
The nation saw a 1.1 percent gain in the median household income, which rose to $46,300 in 2005. Utah's edged up up from $47,074 in 2004 to $47,934 in 2005.
But Wilhelm notes that's well below average growth for a recovery year. Also, the increase was driven by rising senior citizen incomes. The median income for nonelderly households, those headed by someone under 65, fell again in 2005.
Most alarming for advocates, though, are the burgeoning ranks of uninsured. In Utah, the number of people without health insurance grew to 420,000 in 2005, or 16.6 percent of the population. That's a 2.3 percent bump over 2004.
"The problem of the uninsured is on its own track," said Judi Hilman, executive director of the Utah Health Policy Alliance. "It's a problem that needs a bold solution."
Frustrated by the slow pace of federal health care reform, several states are moving ahead with their own fixes. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is weighing a $22 million to $25 million plan to insure all children and make it easier for small businesses to afford coverage.
Details are still emerging. "We're still working through our budget priorities and how it may all fit," Huntsman recently told The Tribune. "But we've got to start someplace."
Small-business owner Pam O'Mara agrees frustration over health care spending has reached critical mass.
Owner of Utah Artists Hands, a purveyor of local artistry and crafts just off Main Street in Salt Lake City, O'Mara has been without medical insurance for more than three years.
The 62-year-old earns too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private coverage. The monthly premium quoted to her by an insurer of last resort was $850.
"I love being downtown and love my business more than I can tell you, or I wouldn't keep doing what I'm doing. But it's really scary to contemplate what might happen if I get sick," said O'Mara.
She fears her health may have already suffered due to missed physicals and annual cancer screenings.
Advocates hope the census figures, which come four years into a spotty economic recovery and just months before federal and state elections, spur policymakers to action.
The last decline in overall poverty was in 2000, during the Clinton administration.
The official poverty level is used to decide eligibility for social welfare programs, such as Medicaid and food stamps.
Funding for these programs has been trimmed by the Bush administration as part of its effort to reduce the federal deficit.
Wilhelm, for one, urges Congress to reject proposals for further cuts and tax breaks benefitting the rich. She also backs a state earned income tax credit and more funding for the government-paid Children's Health Insurance Program, which closes its enrollment on Friday.
kstewart@sltrib.com
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The Associated Press and Tribune reporter Rebecca Walsh contributed to this story.
