WHI Impact Spotlight: Ohio

This 2024 county snapshot map of Ohio members in a subset of our commercial health plan membership shows how physical, behavioral, and social factors affect the overall health of the people we serve.

Average County Whole Health Index

Hover over or click a specific county on the map to display WHI information about that county. Higher numbers indicate better health.

The pop-up for each county shows the average WHI. Two counties can have a similar average WHI, but their physical (PD) and social (SD) drivers may be different, so these numbers are also included to give a better understanding of what is affecting health in that county. A lower physical driver assessment may indicate that more people in that county have illnesses or lack access to quality healthcare, while a lower social driver assessment may indicate more significant health-related social needs (whether for individuals or their community) such as greater transportation challenges.

For example, counties that are experiencing an increase in substance use disorders within their population may show a lower physical driver assessment even if their overall WHI is in the average range. Rural counties may show a lower social driver assessment due to transportation barriers or lack of access to nutritious food.

For privacy purposes, any areas or filters containing fewer than 30 members are not displayed and shown in white.

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Improving health across Ohio means understanding more than what happens in a doctor’s office—it means recognizing the physical, behavioral, and social factors that affect people every day. The Whole Health Index gives us a clearer picture of where challenges like food insecurity, unreliable transportation, housing instability, and access to care are creating barriers to better health. Using those insights, we can partner locally to direct resources where they’re needed most in our communities, support employers and employees, and strengthen health outcomes for all Ohioans.”

Jane Peterson

President, Elevance Health-affiliated plan in Ohio

A Closer Look at Ohio

The WHI measures the overall health of a state’s residents. It can numerically validate information that may be only known anecdotally about social drivers of health, and as a result, identify actions that may be taken to improve health. For example*:

WHI values are consistent across major regions of Ohio, including large cities, industrial regions, and Appalachian areas. Greater variation of WHI values is found at the county level. (Statewide average WHI 52, PD* 51, SD 53).
Ohio’s major cities of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, along with their suburbs, consistently demonstrate moderate well-being, on average, similar to many other metropolitan areas across the United States (WHI 54, PD* 51, SD 56).
Regions outside of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metropolitan areas show lower WHI values across both physical and social drivers (WHI 51, PD* 51, SD 51).

Elevance Health-affiliated plans can also use the WHI at a more granular level to improve member health outcomes in Ohio. Leaning on established partnerships with our network of community-based organizations, we can support our members’ health more holistically.

*“PD” stands for physical drivers of health, and it encompasses the factors that typically go into measuring health, such as presence of illness, whether a person has access to and uses the healthcare system, care for chronic illnesses, and whether a person gets regularly tested for illnesses. The “SD” stands for the social drivers of health that have traditionally been left out of health measurement or given less importance, such as where someone lives, their employment situation, the ability to get nutritious food, and whether they have transportation. These factors make up the Whole Health Index and work together to gauge overall health.

WHI in Action: Community Partnerships

With the WHI helping to guide our understanding about what is most needed in a community, Elevance Health-affiliated plans continue to listen to and partner with local organizations to better meet those needs. These are examples of how Elevance Health has helped communities address health-related social needs in Ohio.

Ensuring Dependable Housing for Moms and Babies

The Community Shelter Board’s Homelessness Prevention Program for Expectant Mothers (HPEM) addresses the lifelong health risks caused by housing instability during pregnancy. HPEM helps low-income pregnant women at imminent risk of homelessness remain housed through at-home case management and up to 12 months of direct financial assistance, prenatal and postnatal care, and job placement connections.

Results as of June 2024:

Served 74 households
95% of families maintained or secured stable housing
38 babies born to participants, with only 8% premature, reflecting strong maternal and infant health outcomes

Generating Food as Medicine Support for Diabetes Management

Diabetes Dayton offers education and wellness classes, emergency insulin and supply assistance, and a camp for children with Type 1 Diabetes. Their six-month food as medicine diabetes education program demonstrates strong health improvements. Participants reported better portion control, nutritious eating, and improved exercise habits, with 100% increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Food vouchers, grocery store tours, and dietitian support further improved food security and diabetes management.

How the WHI is Calculated

The WHI includes not only members who live in the displayed state and receive health benefits coverage from an Elevance Health-affiliated health plan, but also members who live in the displayed state and who receive health benefits coverage through employers headquartered in other states in which Elevance Health-affiliated health plans are offered.

Learn more about WHI Methodology