An estimated four million Americans have lost access to health insurance since the recession began.

The Urban Institute, a nonpartisan economic and social policy research organization, estimates that for each 1% rise in unemployment, 2.4 million Americans lose employed-based health care.

In 2007, over 46 million Americans were without health insurance.

The national unemployment rate is now 7.6%. The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits--nearly five million--has reached an all-time high.

To stem the recession, President Barack Obama signed a $787 billion stimulus bill into law this week. He says the bill will create 3.5 million jobs and re-energize the struggling U.S. economy. The bill received strong opposition from Republicans in both the House and Senate.