Healthy communities are built on a foundation of healthy children, youth and adults. In all cases, comparisons to state statistics reflect the state excluding New York City.

The rate of individuals without health insurance fell between 2008 and 2020.
The percentage of residents under the age of 65 without health insurance in the region fell from 13% in 2008 to 5% in 2019. This puts the region on par with the statewide rate yet below the national rate (10%). Columbia, Greene, Ulster and Sullivan counties were on the higher end of rates of uninsured residents (6%), while Putnam had the lowest rate, at 4%.

Early prenatal care rates varied among racial and ethnic groups throughout the region, similar to statewide trends. 
In 2020, the share of white mothers receiving early prenatal care ranged from 89% in Putnam County to 67% in Sullivan County. African American mothers' rates ranged from 83% in Putnam County to 51% in Sullivan County. Rates among Hispanic mothers ranged from 73% in Putnam County to 61% in Orange County. Dutchess and Putnam counties were the only counties to surpass statewide rates for each racial and ethnic category.

The rate of low birth weight babies increased since 2000, similar to statewide trends.
In 2020, 7.5% of babies born in the region had low birth weights, below the state and national rates of 7.8% and 8.2%, but up from 6.5% in 2000. Greene County had the lowest rate in 2020 (5%), while Sullivan County had the highest rate at 9.6%. 

Deaths from drug poisoning have increased in the region similar to statewide and national trends. 
There were 35 drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 residents in the Mid-Hudson Valley region in 2021, an increase of almost 750% since 2000. That put the region above the state rate of 27 drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 residents.  Sullivan County had the highest rate of drug poisoning deaths in the region at 53.  Columbia and Putnam counties had the lowest rates (26 and 29 respectively).