NYS ranked near-dead last for affordable healthcare, elected officials try to fight it
Wed, August 5, 2026 at 6:22 PM
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Medical instruments are viewed in the office of Dr. Jim Spears at the Actors Fund’s Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic on March 23, 2011 in New York City. Wednesday marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s healthcare law known as the Affordable Care Act. The debate over the bill, which aims to bring affordable healthcare to all Americans, has been emotional as Republican activists have tried to get it repealed. The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic supplies those in the entertainment industry without health coverage with access to doctors and specialists. The clinic has been serving the entertainment community since 2003. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
If you’re struggling to keep up with medical bills, you’re not alone, and a new study suggests New Yorkers may have it worse than almost anyone else in the country
A report from WalletHub ranks New York state as having the least affordable health care in the United States, citing costs beyond monthly premiums, including copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses. Another finding shows the average person in New York State spends $15,500 a year on health care
New York’s overall ranking comes in a little higher, with one report placing the state at No. 39 out of 50 overall (that includes factors like accessibility and outcomes in addition to affordability)
U.S. Rep. John Mannion, D-N.Y., said health care costs remain one of the biggest concerns for his constituents
The cost of healthcare, if not number one, its in the top two issues for people. So this is a serious issue that people expect their elected officials to work on. I have been working on it and I’ll continue to.
Mannion said there are steps that could be taken in the near term, including building on efforts to limit prescription drug costs and expanding the government’s ability to negotiate prices
“I think the capping of many of our pharmaceutical drug costs is a good idea, I think we should expand that list, and we should expand the ability to negotiate,” he said
Looking ahead, officials are aiming for broader changes focused on reducing health care costs. In the meantime, Mannion said smaller moves could help, including improving access and affordability and restoring funding that was reduced through federal cuts
“We need comprehensive reform around healthcare costs, but in the short term, I think there are things we can do to increase accessibility and affordability in restoring some of the funding from those cuts,” he said
Mannion’s GOP opponent in the upcoming election, Kailee Buller, sent this statement to our team:
We have some of the highest healthcare costs, highest taxes, and highest utility bills. John Mannion yells about all of it, but helped create the problems in Albany and is making it worse in Congress. My plan: price transparency, prescription drug reform, lower costs, and work across the aisle to get it done.
