A recent study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed the surprising fact that, for the first time in years, fewer United States citizens do not have health insurance.

The findings of the recently-conducted census showed that 45.7 million Americans lacked health insurance. The number dropped with 1.3 million (15.3% from 15.8%) compared to 2006 thanks first of all to the expanded government health coverage for children.

The census’ findings contradicted forecasts made by health care specialists who were expecting the number of uninsured residents to increase on long-term erosion of private, employment-based coverage.

Lynn Blewett, analyst of State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota, welcomed the results of the census as “good news” and said it’s all thanks to the availability of government programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This shows that, despite the good-looking numbers, the health of the U.S. health care system isn’t necessarily in a better state.

The number of Americans on Medicaid, the government-backed health insurance for people with a low income, rose from 38.3 million to 39.6 million. Meanwhile, the number of children lacking health insurance went from 8.7 million lower to 8.1 million. U.S. residents with public insurance rose by almost 1 million to 23 million, the census said.

On the other hand, the rate of private health insurance coverage dropped 0.4 percent to 67.5 percent of U.S. residents in 2007.

According to health care economist Karen Davis, PhD, president of The Commonwealth Fund, the number of people who have health insurance is not really that relevant to the system’s health. Whether people have health insurance or not represents just “the tip of the iceberg” as many of them are underinsured and their insurances would certainly not protect them when the bill of the medical treatment gets too high, Webmd.com reported.