Des Moines County Health Data
Des Moines County, Iowa
Health Score
76/100
Excellent
Life Expectancy
75.9 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.0%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
75.9 yr
State avg 77.7 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.0%
State avg 5.7%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
75
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
264
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County trails national health metrics
Des Moines County's life expectancy of 75.9 years falls below both the U.S. average (76.4 years) and Iowa's state average (77.7 years), marking one of the lowest in this analysis. At 16.0% reporting poor or fair health, the county shows health challenges, though slightly better than the national 18% average.
Among Iowa's lowest life expectancies
At 75.9 years, Des Moines County ranks among Iowa's poorest performers on life expectancy, falling nearly 1.8 years below the state average of 77.7 years. This gap persists despite reasonable insurance coverage rates, suggesting deeper structural health challenges.
Excellent provider access masks poor outcomes
Des Moines County has the highest primary care provider ratio (75 per 100,000) and one of the highest mental health provider ratios (264 per 100,000) among these eight counties, yet its 75.9-year life expectancy remains the second-lowest. This disconnect suggests health barriers beyond provider availability, such as socioeconomic factors or chronic disease prevalence.
Strong coverage and access, persistent challenges
Des Moines County's uninsured rate of 5.0% is excellent—well below both state (5.7%) and national (10.9%) averages—and provider access is abundant. Yet these assets have not yet translated into county-wide life expectancy gains, indicating that coverage and access alone cannot solve underlying community health determinants.
Maximize your Des Moines County coverage
Coverage is the foundation of good health, and Des Moines County's 5.0% uninsured rate shows most residents are protected. If you're among the uninsured, apply at Healthcare.gov today—and take full advantage of preventive benefits to address the health challenges your county faces.
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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.