Nearly One In Ten Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Residents Are Uninsured, Says Report
Nearly 1 in 10 residents living in Community District 2, which includes Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout, Brooklyn Heights, and Downtown Brooklyn, do not have health insurance, according to figures released Monday by Comptroller Scott Stringer.
In Fort Greene/Clinton Hill/Brooklyn Heights, there were 13,074 people uninsured — 9.5 percent of the area’s population. The comptroller’s analysis used data from the 2014 American Community Survey to determine the number of uninsured people living in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs.
Neighboring Bed-Stuy had 11,809 residents (8.9 percent) uninsured, according to the report.
The Brooklyn neighborhoods with the greatest number of uninsured are Bushwick (22 percent) and Sunset Park (16.3 percent). Citywide, the comptroller’s report found that 962,805 people, 11.4 percent of residents, are without health insurance.
“Close to one million New York City residents lack even the most basic health coverage,” Stringer said in a press release. “To ensure the long-term economic future of our City we need to make sure our residents are healthy and well. We want to get the word out: with the Affordable Care Act in place, getting health insurance is easier and more affordable than ever.”
The comptroller’s report was timed to coincide with the beginning of the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, which runs from November 1, through December 15 for coverage to begin on January 1, 2016. Enrollment will remain open through January 31, 2015 for coverage to begin March 1, 2016.
While the amount of uninsured New Yorkers still hovers above 10 percent, the number has fallen steadily since the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was signed into law in 2010.
“We’ve seen real progress in reducing the number of City residents who are covered, but we must continue to reinforce that being uninsured can have real economic and health consequences for you and your family,” Stringer said.
New Yorkers can find out how to apply for health insurance through the state’s online marketplace. The Brooklyn Public Library also provides free healthcare navigator services at several branches — although none near us.
The closest branch to offer health insurance navigator assistance is the Flatbush Library at 22 Linden Boulevard (at Flatbush Avenue), on Tuesdays from 1-8pm by appointment, and on Thursdays from 10am-6pm.