Polk County Health Data
Polk County, Nebraska
Health Score
66/100
Average
Life Expectancy
76.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
8.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
76.7 yr
State avg 77.5 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
8.2%
State avg 8.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
58
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
38
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Polk County, Nebraska
Polk trails national life expectancy
At 76.7 years, Polk County residents live about 2.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 78.9 years, placing it among Nebraska's shorter-lived counties. With 16.3% reporting poor or fair health—above the national median of 13.7%—chronic disease burden significantly impacts the community.
Below-average health in Nebraska rankings
Polk's 76.7-year life expectancy falls below Nebraska's state average of 77.5 years, ranking it among the lower-performing counties. The 8.2% uninsured rate nearly matches the state average, suggesting insurance is less the problem than underlying health and provider access challenges.
Limited primary care, modest mental health support
Polk provides just 58 primary care providers per 100K residents, well below Nuckolls (123) and Perkins (106), and 38 mental health providers per 100K. This dual limitation in both medical and behavioral health capacity constrains residents' ability to address preventive and chronic disease care.
Provider shortages limit health management
With only 58 primary care providers per 100K and 8.2% uninsured, Polk residents face moderate barriers to healthcare access that likely contribute to the 16.3% poor or fair health rate. Long wait times and travel distances to available providers may discourage preventive visits and early disease detection.
Strengthen Polk's health through coverage
While 91.8% of Polk County residents have insurance, that remaining 8.2% should explore marketplace plans during open enrollment (November 1–January 31) to ensure continuous preventive care access. Contact Healthcare.gov or a local navigator to find plans fitting your budget and healthcare 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.