Wirt County Health Data
Wirt County, West Virginia
Health Score
33/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.4 yr
State avg 72.2 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.2%
State avg 7.6%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
20
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
80
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Wirt County, West Virginia
Wirt above state but below nation
At 72.4 years, Wirt County's life expectancy falls 4 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years, reflecting persistent rural health challenges. However, 28.2% of residents report poor or fair health—the highest rate in this peer group—signaling widespread chronic disease and functional limitation. This concentration of illness among a relatively small population (5,700 residents) amplifies strain on local healthcare.
Slightly above West Virginia average
Wirt's 72.4 years edge past West Virginia's 72.2-year state average by just 0.2 years—a marginal advantage that masks serious underlying challenges. Its 28.2% poor/fair health rate is the worst in this county group, indicating elevated rates of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and mental health struggles. Despite slight longevity parity with the state, Wirt residents experience higher functional decline and disability.
Worst health burden in region
Wirt's 72.4-year life expectancy is middle-of-the-pack regionally, but its 28.2% poor/fair health rate exceeds all peer counties, indicating concentrated illness. Provider access is minimal: only 20 primary care physicians per 100,000—tied with Webster as the scarcest—forcing residents to travel 45+ minutes for routine care. With 80 mental health providers per 100,000, behavioral health access slightly exceeds Webster but lags county needs.
Sparse providers, rising disability
Wirt's 7.2% uninsured rate is below state average, but the real barrier is provider scarcity: 20 primary care doctors per 100,000 means many residents delay care or forgo it entirely. The 28.2% poor/fair health rate reflects years of limited preventive access, resulting in advanced disease and functional decline. Daily healthcare reality: insured residents still struggle to find and reach specialists, and chronic illness management is fragmented.
Insurance plus provider recruitment
With 7.2% uninsured, about 400 Wirt residents lack coverage; check healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 for affordable plans. Getting covered is step one—but Wirt's 20 primary care providers per 100,000 means the county needs sustained recruitment of physicians and physician assistants. Contact the WV Department of Health and Human Resources to advocate for rural provider incentives and loan-forgiveness programs that attract healthcare workers.
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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.