The unemployment rate climbed to 7.2 percent in December according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today—a 16-year high.

The 0.4 percent increase in the unemployment last month represents 524,000 lost jobs. Based on research by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the 0.4 percent rise can be expected to increase the number of uninsured by 440,000 and add an additional 400,000 in new enrollees to Medicare and Medicaid.

The manufacturing sector was the biggest loser with 149,000 jobs lost in December for a total of 791,000 factory jobs lost in 2008. Other hard hit industries included Construction (101,000) and retail trade (67,000). Health care remains one of the few growth sectors, adding 32,000 new jobs in December and 372,000 new jobs for the year.

Also out today, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a new report (along with some of their existing resources), examining the impact of the recession on ordinary Americans, their health coverage and state budgets and Medicaid programs.