Pickens County Health Data
Pickens County, Alabama
Health Score
23/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.5 yr
State avg 72.1 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.5%
State avg 11.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
37
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
54
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Pickens County, Alabama
Pickens's health metrics reflect rural strain
Pickens County residents live to 71.5 years, just below the U.S. average of 71.5 years, signaling a population stretched by chronic disease typical of rural Alabama. One in four residents (25.6%) report poor or fair health, above the national prevalence, indicating higher burdens of preventable illness. With just 37 primary care providers per 100,000, Pickens faces provider shortages limiting preventive care and disease management capacity.
Pickens ranks mid-tier in Alabama health
Pickens County's 71.5-year life expectancy falls 0.6 years below Alabama's 72.1 state average, placing it in the lower-middle tier of county health rankings. The 25.6% poor/fair health rate sits above the state median, reflecting elevated chronic disease prevalence. Pickens's 10.5% uninsured rate runs below the state average of 11.1%, yet the county's sparse providers (37 primary care, 54 mental health per 100K) mean coverage alone cannot ensure care access.
Pickens struggles against healthier peers
Pickens's 71.5-year life expectancy trails Morgan County (72.8) and Randolph County (73.1) by over a year, marking a significant health gap in regional context. The 25.6% poor/fair health rate exceeds Pike County (21.7%) and Morgan County (21.9%), signaling worse disease burden. Pickens's 37 primary care and 54 mental health providers per 100K represent the sparsest networks among surveyed counties aside from Perry, creating barriers even for insured residents.
Provider scarcity compounds rural challenges
Pickens County's 37 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—among the state's lowest—forces residents to travel for routine care, stretching limited budgets and delaying treatment. The 25.6% poor/fair health rate and 10.5% uninsured rate (roughly 1,400 residents) reflect a small, aging population struggling with chronic disease in isolation. Mental health providers (54 per 100K) offer minimal support for the behavioral health needs of a county facing economic stress and opioid epidemics.
Pickens residents: coverage and community care
For Pickens's 1,400 uninsured residents, Medicaid and ACA coverage at healthcare.gov or 1-800-318-2596 may provide access despite provider scarcity. Leverage federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics across Alabama—call your county health department for nearby options offering sliding-scale care. With only 37 primary care doctors per 100K, insured status is critical to ensuring you can reach available providers; treat coverage as your key to accessing the healthcare your county desperately needs.
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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.