Monroe County Health Data
Monroe County, Alabama
Health Score
19/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
70.8 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
70.8 yr
State avg 72.1 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.5%
State avg 11.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
46
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
120
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Monroe County, Alabama
Monroe's health lags national average
Monroe County residents live to 70.8 years, nearly a year below the U.S. average of 71.5 years, signaling persistent health challenges in this rural county. Over one in four residents (26.1%) report poor or fair health, exceeding the national prevalence and suggesting chronic disease burdens. With only 46 primary care providers per 100,000, Monroe has significantly fewer doctors than the national benchmark, limiting preventive care access.
Monroe ranks among Alabama's sickest
Monroe County's 70.8-year life expectancy falls 1.3 years below Alabama's state average of 72.1 years, placing it in the lower tier of state health rankings. The county's 26.1% poor/fair health rate stands well above the state median, reflecting higher rates of preventable chronic illness. Monroe's 11.5% uninsured rate matches the state average, but sparse provider availability (46 primary care per 100K) compounds coverage barriers.
Monroe's health crisis stands out locally
Monroe's 70.8-year life expectancy is nearly two years below neighboring Mobile County (72.6), a striking gap that underscores the county's health disadvantage. The 26.1% poor/fair health rate represents the highest burden among surveyed neighbors, with Pike County (21.7%) and Morgan County (21.9%) showing substantially better population health. Monroe's just 46 primary care providers per 100K—the lowest density among peers—forces residents to travel for routine care.
Rural crisis: few doctors, aging population
Monroe County's 46 primary care providers per 100,000 residents means a shortage so acute that routine care often requires long drives and extended wait times. The 26.1% poor/fair health rate and 11.5% uninsured rate (roughly 3,400 residents) combine to create a public health crisis in a county of 24,000. Mental health providers (120 per 100K) offer some support, but limited primary care acts as a bottleneck for all healthcare, from preventive screenings to chronic disease management.
Monroe residents: coverage helps overcome distance
For Monroe's 3,400 uninsured residents, Medicaid expansion and ACA marketplace plans offer pathways to coverage—visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore options. Securing insurance is crucial in Monroe, where provider scarcity forces many to travel; coverage determines whether distant care is financially feasible. Community health centers across Alabama offer sliding-scale care regardless of insurance—ask your county health department for locations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.