Jim Wells County Health Data
Jim Wells County, Texas
Health Score
7/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.0%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.2 yr
State avg 74.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
19.0%
State avg 19.8%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
31
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
106
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Jim Wells County, Texas
Jim Wells trails U.S. health benchmarks
At 71.2 years, Jim Wells County residents live 5.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 76.4 years, reflecting chronic health challenges in this Coastal Bend community. Nearly 3 in 10 (29.2%) report poor or fair health—8.2 percentage points above the national average—indicating high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions. These disparities are rooted in economic stress and limited preventive care access.
Below Texas average, significant health gap
At 71.2 years, Jim Wells falls 3.1 years short of Texas's state average of 74.3 years, ranking in the lower quartile of county health outcomes. Its 29.2% poor/fair health rate exceeds the state average by roughly 5 percentage points, suggesting concentrated poverty and disease burden. For a county of 42,000, these health deficits ripple through workforce productivity and family stability.
Lagging Nueces and Kleberg nearby
Jim Wells (71.2 years) trails Nueces County (73.8 years) and Kleberg County (72.1 years), with the lowest life expectancy in its three-county region. Its 31 primary care providers per 100K edges out Jim Hogg (21 per 100K) but lags Johnson County (41 per 100K) and Jefferson County (48 per 100K). Mental health capacity (106 per 100K) is better than Jim Hogg but still below state-funded rural targets.
Access improving despite ongoing gaps
Jim Wells has the lowest uninsured rate (19.0%) among its peers, slightly better than the state average of 19.8%, yet 31 primary care providers per 100,000 residents remains modest for a county battling high disease prevalence. The South Texas Health Center and Christus Spohn operate clinics offering sliding-scale care, but wait times for appointments often exceed 4 weeks. Mental health services (106 per 100K) exist but lag demand.
Enroll in Medicaid and preventive benefits
Jim Wells residents can qualify for Medicaid at household incomes up to 138% of federal poverty line; apply at yourtexasbenefits.com or call 2-1-1. South Texas Health Center offers free enrollment support and can connect you to preventive screenings for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Medicaid also covers preventive dental and vision care—critical for managing chronic disease.
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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.