Study finds percentage of New Yorkers without health insurance has declined, but disparities remained stubborn among various ethnic groups

ALBANY, NY- The percentage of New Yorkers lacking health insurance has declined since 2010, according to a study completed by the State Comptroller Office of Thomas DiNapoli.

The study includes data tracked from 2010 to 2021, where rates declined each-year to 5.2%.

Comparatively, the national average of Americans, who do not have health insurance, is just over 8.5%, but still currently less than nearly 12% over a decade ago.

"Public policies over the last decade have had a significant impact in reducing the number of uninsured New Yorkers," DiNapoli said.

"As the state begins reprocessing eligibility determinations for public health insurance, continued transparency and reporting will be essential for understanding the implications for coverage rates among New Yorkers of all races and ethnicities and on the state's budget."

Although the study suggests the trend of New Yorkers without health insurance has been going down, coverage disparities persisted among the state's Black, Asian and Latino populations.

Furthermore, higher uninsured rates were also prevalent among low- and moderate-income groups. In 2021, just 3% of white New Yorkers did not have insurance, compared to 10% of Hispanic and 6% of Black and Asian New Yorkers.

The highest uninsured rates were in households with incomes between $25,000 and $49,000.

nystateofhealth.gov image.