- People who have served have a
62-percent higher rate of coronary heart disease, 67-percent higher
rate of heart attacks and 13-percent higher rate of cancer
- Those who served are less likely to
be physically inactive at all ages than civilians; more likely to
get insufficient sleep
- People who have served face
different access challenges: 90 percent have health insurance, but
are less likely to have a personal doctor or health care
provider
The majority of people who have served in the U.S. military
report being in very good or excellent health despite facing
notable health challenges, including higher rates of cancer and
coronary heart disease, than those who have not served (also
referred to as civilians).
That is according to the 2016 America’s Health Rankings® Health
of Those Who Have Served Report, newly released by United Health
Foundation in partnership with the Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA). Through the analysis of 24 health measures, the
report, developed in collaboration with an advisory group of
leading public health, military and veterans’ organizations,
establishes a national baseline and a holistic portrait of the
health of people who have served in the U.S. military.
People Who Have Served Report Better Overall Health, but Face
Higher Rates of Chronic Health Challenges
Those who have served are more likely to report being in very
good or excellent health compared with civilians. However, men and
women who have served report higher rates of several chronic
diseases and unhealthy behaviors compared with their civilian
counterparts. For example:
- People who have served have a
13-percent higher rate of cancer, 62-percent higher rate of
coronary heart disease and 67-percent higher rate of heart
attacks.
- Individuals 18-39 years of age who have
served have a 39-percent higher rate of insufficient sleep and
23-percent higher rate of smoking.
Men and Women Who Have Served are Less Physically Inactive at
All Ages
The report found physical inactivity for all age groups is
22-percent lower among people who have served in the military
compared with those who have not served. Specifically, physical
inactivity is 38-percent lower among individuals 18-39 years of age
who have served vs. their civilian peers, and 21-percent lower
among individuals over 80 years of age.
People Who Have Served Have Higher Rates of Health Insurance
Coverage, but Individuals 18-39 Years of Age Often Lack a Personal
Doctor or Health Care Provider
The report found people who have served in the military have
higher rates of health insurance coverage, fewer unmet medical
needs and higher utilization of certain preventive services
compared with those who have not served. However, they also are
less likely to have someone they regard as a personal doctor or
health care provider. For example:
- More than 90 percent of people who have
served in the military have health insurance coverage, compared
with about 83 percent of civilians.
- Individuals 18-39 years of age who have
served are far less likely to have a personal doctor or health care
provider (59.3 percent) compared with their older peers with
military service and civilians of all ages.
“Despite the confidence among those who have served in the U.S.
military in regards to their health, the higher rates of coronary
heart disease and cancer compared with their civilian counterparts
are concerning,” said Richard Migliori, M.D., senior adviser to
United Health Foundation, and executive vice president, Medical
Affairs, and chief medical officer of UnitedHealth Group. “We owe a
great debt of gratitude to those who have served, and we need to do
all we can to help improve their health. Using the new insights
from this report, we can identify specific opportunities to work
together to help improve the health of our service members and
veterans.”
“The health of those who have served is a high priority for all
of us,” said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF
(Ret). “We believe insights from this report will help stimulate
dialogue and action to better serve the unique health needs of
uniformed service members, veterans and their families.”
This is the second time MOAA has partnered with United Health
Foundation to identify specific areas to improve care for the men
and women who have served.
“The health of those who have served is an important area of
focus for policymakers, health officials and community leaders,”
Atkins said. “We encourage others to use these findings to help
improve the lives of service members and their families.”
To read this report and additional America’s Health Rankings
materials, visit http://www.americashealthrankings.org.
About America’s Health Rankings and Health of Those Who Have
Served Report
America’s Health Rankings, in partnership with MOAA, released
the Health of Those Who Have Served Report to develop a holistic
study of the heath of those who have served in the U.S. military
compared with the health of civilians in the same age and
demographic groups. The report focuses on the health of those who
have ever served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces,
either in regular military or in a National Guard or military
reserve unit. Within the sample, the age distribution of those who
have served and those who have not was adjusted to reflect the U.S.
population and provide comparisons for the same age and demographic
groups of both populations.
The Health of Those Who Have Served Report establishes a
national baseline portrait of the health of those who have ever
served in active duty, analyzing 24 health measures from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS) – the world’s largest, annual
population-based telephone survey of over 400,000 people. The
measures include indicators of health behaviors, health outcomes
and utilization of key health care services.
United Health Foundation also produces the annual America’s
Health Rankings Annual Report and has recently expanded its
reporting series to include a number of spotlight reports focused
on important markers of the nation’s health, including prevention
and the impacts of unhealthy behaviors, and population reports on
the health of seniors and the health of women and children. For
more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has
committed nearly $315 million to programs and communities around
the world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com/SocialResponsibility or follow
Facebook.com/UHGGives.
About Military Officers Association of America
MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of
officers from the seven uniformed services. It is an independent,
nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. MOAA is a powerful
force with members from every branch of the uniformed services,
including military active duty, National Guard and Reserve;
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and United States
Public Health Service; retired, former officers, and their
families. Together we work to ensure a strong national defense and
represent the interests of all uniformed service members, officer
and enlisted, at every stage of their careers. Learn more at:
http://www.moaa.org/
Twitter: @AHR_RankingsFacebook:
www.facebook.com/AmericasHealthRankingsWebsite:
www.americashealthrankings.org
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United Health FoundationMedia Contact:Danielle Varallo,
202-654-8847danielle_varallo@uhg.com
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