The health insurance coverage for Nepali immigrants in New York City shows notable disparities when compared to other Asian American communities.
According to recent data from the Asian American Federation, 10.3% of Nepalis in NYC lack health insurance, making them the second-highest uninsured Asian group in the city, following the Thai community, which has an uninsured rate of 14.2%.
This highlights a higher uninsured rate among Nepalis compared to other Asian groups, such as Japanese, Burmese, Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Korean, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Vietnamese populations.
The overall uninsured rate for Asian Americans in New York City is 6.5%, with Nepalis exceeding this average. Larger Asian groups, including Chinese, Indian, and Korean residents, also experience higher uninsured rates than the citywide average.
A geographical analysis of uninsured Nepalis shows varying rates across different boroughs of New York City. In Queens, 10.6% of Nepali residents are uninsured, followed by 10.2% in Manhattan and 10% in the Bronx. In contrast, Brooklyn has a much lower uninsured rate of 1.8%.
Over the years, the Nepali community has made significant progress in improving health insurance coverage. In 2015, 24.1% of Nepalis were uninsured, a figure that decreased to 11.7% by 2021. The most recent data from 2022 shows a further decline to 10.3%, indicating continued improvement in healthcare access. However, gaps in coverage remain.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
