CHICAGO — Newly released U.S. Census Bureau figures show the percentage of Illinois children with health insurance grew between 2008 and 2009. But about 5 percent of Illinois children were still uninsured last year.
Macon County has the highest rate of uninsured children of the 23 largest counties in Illinois. The census data show nearly 14 percent of Macon County children were uninsured last year.
Barbara Dunn directs a community health center in Decatur in Macon County. She says the loss of manufacturing jobs has left many families without health coverage.
Illinois' rate of uninsured children is better than the U.S. rate of 9 percent uninsured children in 2009.
The figures come from the American Community Survey, which is sent to about 3 million households each year.