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Feelings Meet Facts: What We See When We Overlay Our Gallup Survey on the City Checkup
Nearly one in four U.S. workers, about 23 million people, say they're staying in a job they want to leave because they're afraid of losing their health insurance.1 Researchers call this job lock, and according to new research from our West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, it's risen eight percentage points since 2021.1,2 That's a feeling, captured the way we capture feelings through ...
Inside the West Health City Checkup
Not one of the 789 cities graded by the West Health City Checkup earned an A. Rockville, Maryland, ranked first in the country, earns the single highest grade anyone achieved: a B+. Its Safety & Security domain, on its own, sits at only the 72nd percentile.1 Strong, not flawless, and that's true of the best report card in America.That's not a flaw in the measurement. It's the finding, and that’s w...
America's Cities Just Got a Checkup
Today, 789 American cities took the same checkup. Not one earned an A. West Health graded all of them, A+ to F, across seven dimensions of daily life: financial security, infrastructure, mental and behavioral health, physical environment, physical health, safety, and social connection. Rockville, Maryland earned the best report card in the country, a B+. Memphis, Tennessee ranked 789th out of 789....
Healthcare Affordability is Eroding
Key Takeaways:The Cost Secure share has slipped to a five-year low. Just 49% of US adults can pay for needed healthcare and medicine and have access to quality, affordable care, down 12 percentage points since 2022.Roughly 41% of adults are Cost Insecure, meaning they have either struggled recently to pay for prescriptions or treatment, or they don't have reliable access to affordable, quality car...
Who Pays? The Cost of Long-Term Care in the United States
Long-term care includes an array of services that help people with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and eating. These services may include home health care, nursing home care, personal care, homemaker services, transportation, and other supports that allow older adults and people with disabilities to live safely and with dignity. Nearly 70% of older Americans will nee...
Accelerating Mental Health Integration in Primary Care: From Implementation to Sustainable Impact
Blog series: This article launches a new series examining mental health care in America and the opportunities to reach more people with effective, timely care. The series will draw on real-world implementation with our partners: Northwestern Medicine, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to explore where the system falls short and how ...
How Transportation Shapes Health Care Access for Older Adults
As we age, access to transportation greatly influences our ability to maintain independence and engage in essential daily activities. For more than 11 million older adults who no longer drive, reliable transportation often determines whether they can access timely care, manage their chronic conditions, grocery shopping, and stay connected to their communities. Nearly 10% of older adults over age 6...
Key Challenges Women Face that Impact Their Financial Security
Planning for retirement is difficult at any age, but it can be especially challenging for women ages 50 to 64, who are often juggling work, caregiving responsibilities, and rising health expenses associated with an increase in health care needs. These years are also often women’s peak earning years, making this period a critical window to build savings and strengthen financial security. Elder Inde...
Safety Net Programs Don’t Keep Up with Older Adults’ Actual Costs of Living
The infographic below illustrates how the income eligibility limits for several major safety net programs compare with the actual cost of living for older adults. While these programs provide critical support for those with the lowest incomes, many older adults who are struggling financially fall outside eligibility thresholds and are unable to access assistance.Key Takeaways• The cost of living i...
Breaking Free from Pilot Purgatory: A Path Forward for Healthcare Innovation
As Chief Medical Officer of West Health, an organization that is dedicated to lowering the cost of healthcare and advancing sustainable, high-quality delivery models in healthcare, I have witnessed a troubling pattern repeat itself countless times. A promising clinical initiative launches with enthusiasm and early success, only to languish later. The results look good. The team is energized. Leade...