Polk County Health Data
Polk County, Iowa
Health Score
76/100
Excellent
Life Expectancy
77.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
77.2 yr
State avg 77.7 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.5%
State avg 5.7%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
93
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
351
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Polk County, Iowa
Polk County's health reflects urban complexity
At 77.2 years, Polk County's life expectancy sits slightly below the U.S. average of 78.1 years, despite housing Iowa's capital and largest metro area. A 17.0% poor or fair health rate indicates that urban density and economic diversity haven't eliminated underlying health disparities.
Urban county trails Iowa state average
Polk County's 77.2-year life expectancy ranks below Iowa's 77.7 average, surprising for the state's most populous and economically robust county. However, its 5.5% uninsured rate nearly matches the state average, suggesting coverage isn't the primary driver of modest health outcomes.
Urban center outpaces rural competitors on access
Polk County's 93 primary care providers per 100,000 residents vastly exceed rural neighbors like Pocahontas (28) and Palo Alto (45), reflecting Des Moines's urban advantage. With 351 mental health providers per 100K—the highest of any county profiled—Polk County offers unmatched behavioral health infrastructure.
Healthcare abundance masks persistent inequity
Polk County's 93 primary care and 351 mental health providers per 100,000 residents create Iowa's densest healthcare network, yet 5.5% remain uninsured and 17% report poor health. This suggests that access infrastructure alone doesn't guarantee equitable outcomes—social determinants and care quality play equally critical roles.
Access Polk's abundant healthcare resources
With 5.5% of Polk County residents uninsured and the state's best provider availability, there's no reason to delay enrollment at Healthcare.gov or through your employer. Security your coverage now and take full advantage of Des Moines's unmatched primary care and mental health resources.
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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.