New York’s Uninsured Rate Continues to Decline, Among the Lowest in the Nation

As Low as 2% in Some Upstate Counties

Open Enrollment through NY State of Heath to Begin November 1

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 02, 2019) - NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, today announced in more than half of New York's counties, the rate of uninsured New Yorkers declined according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. New York was one of only three states nationwide to see a decrease in its uninsured population in 2018. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, the state has reduced the number of uninsured people by 1.2 million since 2010, including one million since the Marketplace opened in 2013.

"Despite aggressive efforts at the federal level to block access to healthcare, New York continues to lead the nation in enrolling people into quality, affordable health coverage," said NY State of Health Executive Director Donna Frescatore. "As we prepare to enter our seventh Open Enrollment Period, we will continue our efforts to help more New Yorkers gain access to the affordable healthcare they deserve."

Here are some highlights:

• In 2018, the New York counties with the lowest rates of uninsured were:

• County	% Uninsured 2018
  Tompkins	2.3%
  Niagara	2.5%
  Albany	2.6%
  Monroe	3.0%
  Ontario	3.0%
  Chemung	3.1%
  Livingston	3.1%
  Clinton	3.2%
  Erie	3.2%
  Onondaga	3.2%

• From 2017 to 2018 the following New York counties had the largest decline in the uninsured rate:

• County	% Uninsured 2018	% Uninsured 2017	Change in Uninsured Rate
  St. Lawrence	3.9%	8%	-4.1%
  Steuben	4.5%	6.9%	-2.4%
  Niagara	2.5%	4.5%	-2.0%
  Tompkins	2.3%	4.1%	-1.8%
  Cayuga	3.4%	5.0%	-1.6%
  Westchester	4.6%	6.1%	-1.5%
  Oneida	3.5%	4.8%	-1.3%
  Putnam	3.6%	4.8%	-1.2%
  Ulster	5.3%	6.2%	-0.9%
  Nassau	3.9%	4.8%	-0.9%

• Note: 2018 U.S. Census data is not available in all counties.

• U.S. Census data also shows a reduction in uninsured rates for children under the age of 19 in New York (from 2.7 percent in 2017 to 2.5 percent in 2018), as well as a decline in the share of young adults ages 19 to 34 without health insurance (from 9.8 percent in 2017 to 9.4 percent in 2018).

Earlier this year, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Health Interview Survey reported that the uninsured rate for New York State in 2018 was 4.7 percent. Both surveys show the same strong downward trend in New York's uninsured rate, despite some variation in survey results and methodology.

There is still work to be done to reduce the remaining uninsured New Yorkers, and the NY State of Health will continue to conduct education and outreach activities that inform New Yorkers statewide about affordable, quality coverage options available through the Marketplace. In addition, New York's annual Open Enrollment Period for enrollment in a Qualified Health Plan begins November 1, 2019 and will run through January 31, 2020.

For additional details on enrollment through NY State of Health, including detailed demographic data, the 2019 Open Enrollment Report can be viewed here.