Report: Illinois ranks 26th nationwide for health

Illinois continued to provide good mental healthcare, but racial disparities and high levels of air pollution are still prevalent issues in the state, according to an annual report from the United Health Foundation.

The state ranked 26th overall for its health, the same ranking it received in 2019. This is the first time the report has ranked states since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, developed in partnership with the American Public Health Association, scores states on 51 measures of population health, which include social and economic factors, environmental health, clinical care, behaviors and health outcomes.

The report not only provides insight to the overall health of the nation, but also is meant to show how the pandemic impacted the country, according to Dr. Rhonda Randall, executive vice president and chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual.

Illinois was found to have a low prevalence of mental distress, a low percentage of food insecurity and a high flu vaccination rate among adults.

The number of mental health providers rose from 193.8 for every 100,000 residents in 2017 to 300.4 per 100,000 residents in 2022. The state has 71 dental care providers and 270.4 primary care providers per 100,000 residents.

Racial disparities continues to be an issue, with Illinois ranking 36th in the nation for its racial gap in premature deaths. It also ranked 37th for racial disparities in low birthweights.

Drug deaths rose by 28 percent from 2019 to 2020, going from 21.9 to 28.0 deaths per 100,000 residents. This is compared to a 30 percent increase nationally.

“We need to find ways to get those with substance abuse disorders the help they need,” Randall said. “The increase we see in mental health providers is a promising sign, but we still have a long way to go.”

The state ranked 48th for air pollution and 44th for housing with a lead risk.

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