The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Care Consumer Confidence Index (RWJF Index) found that Americans’ confidence in their health insurance coverage and access to health care rose slightly as children headed back to school. The RWJF Index rose 0.5 points in September to 96.6, from 96.1 in August.

Despite this slight increase, the month saw continued growth in the number of Americans who are worried about losing health coverage. When the RWJF Index began in April, 21.6 percent of Americans reported worries about losing insurance at some point in the next 12 months. In September, that number had climbed to 33.4 percent.

Other highlights:

• 81.4% of Americans believe it is important that President Obama includes health reform in plans to address the economy.
• 76.1% of Americans report that they believe health reform will improve their personal finances.
• 53.2% of Americans are worried that they will not be able to pay for their future health care needs in the event of a serious illness.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Care Consumer Confidence Index (RWJF Index) is a monthly survey that evaluates consumer confidence in American health care. The RWJF index is created by the University of Minnesota's State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) using data collected as part of the Surveys of Consumers, conducted by the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan.