ACTIVE PHYSICIANS: In 2006, Michigan ranked 25th with 245 doctors per 100,000 people. This is an improvement over previous years, though not a large one. In 2004, Michigan had 240 active physicians per 100,000 residents, and ranked 27th.
INSURANCE: Michigan ranks fairly well in comparison with other states on the percentage of the total population with health insurance coverage. After dropping 6 places to 18th in 2007, Michigan bounced back to 14th in 2008, with 88.3 percent of the population covered by health insurance. This was 1.4 percent less than in 2005.
INFANT MORTALITY: Michigan’s infant mortality rate is dismal when compared to most of the country. Ranked 38th in 2005, the infant mortality rate in the state was 7.89 (number of infant deaths per thousand live births). The U.S. average rate in this year was 6.86, and of the Great Lakes states, only Indiana and Ohio infants fared worse. However, the 2005 ranking was actually an improvement over 2003 when Michigan ranked 44th with an infant mortality rate of 8.57.
SMOKING: The smoking rate is decreasing in Michigan over time, but in 2008 the state only tied for 36th with 20.5 percent of the adult population currently smoking. This is down from 22.4 percent in 2006, when Michigan ranked 39th.
DIABETES: While improving in the ranking over the last three years, Michigan still ties for 35th in the nation on the percent of the population with diabetes (number 1 being the lowest). By 2008, 9.1 percent of the population in Michigan had been told by a doctor that they were diabetic, and another 1.3 percent had been told they were pre-diabetic or borderline diabetic. Minnesota ranked 1st in 2008, with only 5.9 percent of the state’s population having been diagnosed with diabetes.
OBESITY: On a rank of percent of the population neither overweight nor obese (as measured by body mass index), Michigan tied for 35th in 2008. While Michigan improved its ranking from 45th in 2006, the percent of the population neither overweight nor obese only increased by .1 percent to 35.3 percent in 2008. Roughly three quarters of Michigan’s population answered “yes” to the question “During the past month, did you participate in any physical activities?” in 2008, ranking the state at 29th. This is a lower percentage of the population than in 2006 and 2007.
