McDonald County Health Data
McDonald County, Missouri
Health Score
13/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
18.0%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.2 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
18.0%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
9
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
21
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in McDonald County, Missouri
McDonald County faces severe health crisis
At 72.2 years, McDonald County residents live 4.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 76.4 years—among the nation's poorest longevity outcomes. More than 1 in 4 (25.4%) report poor or fair health, far exceeding national rates and indicating widespread chronic disease. Combined with 18.0% uninsured—the highest in the state cluster—McDonald County represents America's healthcare access and outcome crisis.
Missouri's most health-challenged county
McDonald County's 72.2-year life expectancy ranks 2.1 years below Missouri's state average of 74.3 years, making it among the state's most vulnerable communities. The 25.4% poor/fair health rate far exceeds state norms, indicating severe chronic disease burden and prevention failures. These metrics demand urgent, sustained intervention across healthcare, social services, and economic development.
Worst outcomes in the entire cluster
McDonald County's 72.2-year life expectancy is 3.5 years below neighboring Lincoln County (75.7 years) and 3.9 years behind Livingston County (76.1 years)—the region's most catastrophic gap. At 25.4% poor/fair health, McDonald County suffers the cluster's highest disease burden, tied only with Linn County's 22.1%. With just 9 primary care providers per 100K and only 21 mental health providers per 100K, the county lacks healthcare infrastructure to serve its most vulnerable population.
Crisis-level uninsured rate, severe provider shortage
McDonald County's 18.0% uninsured rate—nearly 1 in 5 residents—is the highest in the state cluster and 5.5 percentage points above Missouri's average. With only 9 primary care providers per 100K, the county falls far below national standards of 60 per 100K, leaving serious access deserts. Mental health providers at 21 per 100K are similarly scarce, forcing residents to travel significant distances for behavioral care or go untreated.
Coverage is urgent in McDonald County
McDonald County's healthcare emergency—nearly 1 in 5 uninsured, severe provider shortages, lowest life expectancy—demands immediate action starting with insurance. Visit Healthcare.gov today to explore Medicaid expansion, subsidized marketplace plans, and community health center sliding scales. Coverage alone won't solve McDonald County's 4-year longevity gap, but it's the essential foundation for accessing scarce providers and preventive care.
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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.