Identifying Racial Disparities Within Healthcare Costs in New York State

Healthcare in the United States has been subject to much scrutiny, with many important topics of discussion occurring with regards to access of care, cost, and quality. Unlike many western countries, the United States does not have universal healthcare. The United States relies on a direct-fee system for its healthcare cost structure, where patients under the age of 65 are expected to pay for medical costs themselves, with additional help provided through employers’ insurance policy.

At a time when racial tensions are high in the United States, with ongoing protests…