DataPoint: Veteran Health in New York State

Over half of the veterans in New York State are over the age of 65. According to data compiled from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in 2016, the VA spent approximately $64 billion on medical care nationwide and nearly $3 billion within New York State. New York’s VA spent $6.3 billion on veteran expenses in 2016, with 46% attributable to health care. Nationally, 37 percent of VA spending is devoted to health care. New York’s five most densely populated counties with veterans per 1,000 residents were Hamilton (131), Jefferson (124), Steuben (96), Warren (96), and Clinton (94). Many veterans receive health care coverage from sources outside of the VA. Nationally, more than 70 percent of veterans have private health care. Veteran health care differs from the general population because veterans are eight times more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and two to four times more likely to have major depression. The New York State Health Foundation’s complete statistical analysis on veteran health and demographics is available here.

Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820