NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Despite facing unique health challenges, immigrant New Yorkers are healthier overall than their United States-born counterparts, according to a new report released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The report found that immigrant New Yorkers on average outlive those born in the U.S. by 3.6 years, with an 83.5 year life expectancy, compared to 79.9.
This difference could be attributed to healthy behaviors, lower mortality rates and immigrant New Yorkers’ role in the city’s healthcare system, according to key findings from the report.
Immigrants are less likely to smoke than U.S.-born residents, and have death rates from heart disease and cancer that are respectively 28% and 19% lower, health officials said. NYC’s healthcare system also relies on immigrants, who make up 47% of the city’s workforce in healthcare practitioner and technical occupations.
Despite the factors leading the NYC health department to dub immigrants as “healthier” New Yorkers, they still face identity-based health challenges that prevent them from receiving proper care.
Immigrant adults are twice as likely as U.S.-born adults to lack access to health insurance, are less likely to receive mental health care if suffering from depression and face the impact of systemic issues like racism, unfair access to employment and inconsistent access to translation and interpretation services.
“Investing in the health and well-being of immigrant New Yorkers helps our whole city and country thrive,” Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said. “That’s why our mission is to protect and promote—without exception—the health of all New Yorkers.”
To bolster immigrant health, the report recommends the city continue to reduce language and cultural barriers to meet basic housing, education and healthcare needs; engage immigrant communities by sharing resources about services and rights; and eliminate immigration status eligibility requirements that prevent New Yorkers from accessing needed public benefits.
“This report demonstrates the importance of effective partnership and community-centered services to continue improving health outcomes for immigrant New Yorkers,” Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro said. “At our office, we know that the health of immigrant communities constitutes the health of New York City.”