2017 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

Health

Section 7: Health

This section presents statistics on health in the United States, especially the health of people with disabilities. Specifically, the data address the prevalence of disabilities, health behaviors such as smoking, binge drinking, obesity, and health insurance coverage by disability status. These statistics were generated by the authors using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disability and Health Data System for more detailed information on the health of the population with disabilities. Statistics for people with disabilities (disability status) are based on having responded ‘yes’ to a series of questions within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. See the glossary for more details.

Tables

Table 7.1: In 2016, there were 239,368,830 individuals ages 18 and over living in the community, and 61,444,813 had a disability (25.7 percent). The state with the largest number of individuals with disabilities was California, with 6,479,729 individuals with disabilities, while the state with the smallest number of individuals with disabilities was Alaska, with 100,857 individuals with disabilities.

Table 7.2: In 2016, individuals (ages 18 years and over) with disabilities were more likely to smoke (24.6 percent) than adults without disabilities (13.5 percent). Adults with disabilities were most likely to smoke in Missouri (34.0 percent) and least likely to smoke in Utah (15.0 percent).

Table 7.3: In 2016, individuals (ages 18 years and over) with disabilities were more likely to be obese (38.9 percent) than adults without disabilities (26.4 percent). Adults with disabilities were most likely to be obese in Alabama (43.8 percent) and least likely to be obese in Hawaii (29.6 percent).

Table 7.4: In 2016, individuals (ages 18 years and over) with disabilities were less likely to binge drink (13.1 percent) than adults without disabilities (18.3 percent). Adults with disabilities were most likely to binge drink in Wisconsin (21.6 percent) and least likely to binge drink in Mississippi (7.0 percent).

Table 7.5: In 2016, individuals ages 18 and over with disabilities in Kentucky were most likely to have health insurance coverage (94.9 percent), while individuals ages 18 and over with disabilities in Texas were least likely to have health insurance coverage (79.8 percent).

Table 7.1 Persons Ages 18 and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2016
State Total Disability No Disability   State Total Disability No Disability
Count % [1] Count % [1] Count % [1] Count % [1]
U.S. 239,368,830 61,444,813 25.7 177,924,017 74.3 MO  4,585,099  1,319,633  28.8  3,265,466  71.2
AL  3,640,055  1,218,125  33.5  2,421,930  66.5 MT   795,300    215,715   27.1   579,585   72.9
AK   536,456    100,857   18.8   435,598   81.2 NE  1,409,913   309,584   22.0  1,100,329  78.0
AZ  5,058,865  1,335,910  26.4  3,722,955  73.6 NV  2,199,372   640,482   29.1  1,558,890  70.9
AR  2,209,009   767,548   34.7  1,441,461  65.3 NH  1,040,213   253,885   24.4   786,328   75.6
CA 28,300,734  6,479,729  22.9 21,821,005  77.1 NJ  6,677,014  1,660,706  24.9  5,016,308  75.1
CO  3,904,017   742,860   19.0  3,161,157  81.0 NM  1,530,046   446,098   29.2  1,083,948  70.8
CT  2,727,152   605,684   22.2  2,121,468  77.8 NY 14,489,676  3,321,032  22.9 11,168,644  77.1
DE   725,097    185,501   25.6   539,596   74.4 NC  7,652,518  1,981,999  25.9  5,670,519  74.1
DC   549,107    122,063   22.2   427,043   77.8 ND   564,903    114,217   20.2   450,686   79.8
FL 15,661,693  4,744,369  30.3 10,917,323  69.7 OH  8,768,183  2,343,380  26.7  6,424,802  73.3
GA  7,520,364  2,033,265  27.0  5,487,099  73.0 OK  2,839,606   915,771   32.2  1,923,835  67.8
HI  1,082,749   236,073   21.8   846,676   78.2 OR  3,018,447   782,790   25.9  2,235,657  74.1
ID  1,195,711   264,474   22.1   931,236   77.9 PA  9,847,625  2,450,613  24.9  7,397,012  75.1
IL  9,582,566  2,025,310  21.1  7,557,255  78.9 RI   813,624    201,338   24.7   612,286   75.3
IN  4,901,833  1,219,518  24.9  3,682,315  75.1 SC  3,750,005  1,118,059  29.8  2,631,946  70.2
IA  2,344,320   531,559   22.7  1,812,761  77.3 SD   636,655    141,365   22.2   495,290   77.8
KS  2,081,961   491,285   23.6  1,590,676  76.4 TN  4,966,893  1,588,738  32.0  3,378,155  68.0
KY  3,350,108  1,176,897  35.1  2,173,212  64.9 TX 19,894,967  4,928,536  24.8 14,966,430  75.2
LA  3,442,616  1,081,030  31.4  2,361,587  68.6 UT  2,065,191   416,818   20.2  1,648,374  79.8
ME  1,049,615   259,082   24.7   790,533   75.3 VT   489,437    109,883   22.5   379,554   77.5
MD  4,477,447   967,871   21.6  3,509,576  78.4 VA  6,352,708  1,468,686  23.1  4,884,021  76.9
MA  5,139,947  1,226,532  23.9  3,913,416  76.1 WA  5,471,897  1,264,635  23.1  4,207,262  76.9
MI  7,503,404  2,254,450  30.0  5,248,953  70.0 WV  1,439,271   573,424   39.8   865,847   60.2
MN  4,103,681   933,297   22.7  3,170,383  77.3 WI  4,268,205   969,073   22.7  3,299,132  77.3
MS  2,198,551   775,664   35.3  1,422,887  64.7 WY   438,355    111,776   25.5   326,579   74.5

Source: Authors' calculations using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. U.S. values were calculated based on the summation of state values. Persons living in institutions are not included. See dhds.cdc.gov/methods for more detail.
[1] The count of people with or without a disability as a percent of total.
Table 7.2 Health Behavior—Smoking among Persons Ages 18 and Over by Disability Status: 2016
State Smoking (%) Gap (% pts) [1]   State Smoking (%) Gap (% pts) [1]
Disability No Disability Disability No Disability
U.S. 24.6 13.5 11.0 MO 34.0 17.4 16.6
AL 29.2 17.6 11.6 MT 26.2 15.7 10.5
AK 29.1 16.8 12.3 NE 26.4 14.3 12.1
AZ 22.0 12.0 10.0 NV 23.4 13.7 9.7 
AR 32.9 18.8 14.1 NH 28.4 14.7 13.6
CA 16.4 9.4  7.1  NJ 23.1 11.0 12.1
CO 26.4 13.1 13.2 NM 22.3 14.3 8.0 
CT 23.3 10.5 12.8 NY 20.1 12.4 7.7 
DE 25.5 15.0 10.4 NC 24.9 15.3 9.6 
DC 23.0 12.3 10.6 ND 30.4 17.1 13.3
FL 21.9 12.7 9.3  OH 31.8 19.2 12.6
GA 27.6 14.3 13.3 OK 27.9 15.2 12.7
HI 19.8 11.2 8.6  OR 25.2 13.1 12.1
ID 23.6 11.9 11.8 PA 27.9 14.7 13.2
IL 24.1 13.6 10.5 RI 24.0 11.4 12.6
IN 31.9 17.6 14.3 SC 29.4 16.0 13.4
IA 25.8 14.0 11.8 SD 22.1 17.0 5.2 
KS 26.8 14.3 12.6 TN 32.1 17.4 14.8
KY 32.4 20.2 12.1 TX 19.9 12.5 7.5 
LA 29.2 19.7 9.6  UT 15.0 7.2  7.8 
ME 30.2 16.4 13.8 VT 28.5 13.7 14.8
MD 22.7 11.1 11.6 VA 23.8 12.8 10.9
MA 21.2 11.3 10.0 WA 21.8 11.6 10.2
MI 29.2 16.6 12.7 WV 29.9 21.5 8.4 
MN 24.5 12.4 12.0 WI 26.8 14.3 12.6
MS 28.8 19.6 9.2  WY 25.0 17.0 8.0 

Source: Authors' calculations using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. U.S. values were calculated based on the summation of state values. Persons living in institutions are not included. See dhds.cdc.gov/methods for more detail.
[1] The difference in percentage points between people who smoke with and without a disability.
Table 7.3 Health Behavior—Obesity among Persons 18 and Over by Disability Status: 2016
State Obesity (%) Gap (% pts) [1]   State Obesity (%) Gap (% pts) [1]
Disability No Disability Disability No Disability
U.S. 38.9 26.4 12.6 MO 41.9 27.6 14.3
AL 43.8 31.8 12.0 MT 34.5 22.0 12.5
AK 39.7 30.0 9.8  NE 38.2 30.3 7.9 
AZ 40.5 25.0 15.5 NV 34.0 22.5 11.5
AR 40.9 32.9 8.0  NH 36.8 23.2 13.6
CA 35.2 22.0 13.2 NJ 38.3 24.1 14.2
CO 31.6 20.0 11.6 NM 34.9 25.8 9.1 
CT 37.3 23.1 14.2 NY 38.0 21.9 16.0
DE 41.8 26.8 15.1 NC 42.5 28.3 14.2
DC 35.3 19.0 16.2 ND 40.5 29.9 10.7
FL 35.1 23.9 11.2 OH 42.9 27.2 15.7
GA 39.6 28.5 11.1 OK 40.2 29.5 10.7
HI 29.6 22.1 7.5  OR 39.4 25.1 14.4
ID 37.0 24.6 12.4 PA 38.3 27.7 10.6
IL 41.7 28.6 13.1 RI 39.1 22.3 16.8
IN 40.8 29.7 11.1 SC 41.1 28.2 12.8
IA 40.7 29.1 11.6 SD 37.6 27.6 10.0
KS 39.7 28.5 11.2 TN 42.1 31.5 10.5
KY 41.9 29.9 12.0 TX 40.6 31.0 9.6 
LA 40.9 33.6 7.3  UT 36.2 22.7 13.5
ME 40.2 26.3 13.9 VT 38.6 23.4 15.2
MD 41.1 26.9 14.2 VA 37.8 26.5 11.2
MA 34.3 20.7 13.6 WA 39.7 25.5 14.2
MI 40.5 29.0 11.5 WV 43.7 33.4 10.3
MN 37.6 24.9 12.6 WI 36.6 28.5 8.1 
MS 41.5 34.2 7.3  WY 37.1 24.5 12.5

Source: Authors' calculations using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. U.S. values were calculated based on the summation of state values. Persons living in institutions are not included. See dhds.cdc.gov/methods for more detail.
[1] The difference in percentage points between people who are obese with and without a disability.
Table 7.4 Health Behavior—Binge Drinking among Persons Ages 18 and Over by Disability Status: 2016
State Binge Drinking (%) Gap (% pts) [1]   State Binge Drinking (%) Gap (% pts) [1]
Disability No Disability Disability No Disability
U.S. 13.1 18.3 -5.1  MO 12.6 20.8 -8.2 
AL 9.7  14.6 -4.9  MT 13.9 20.9 -7.0 
AK 13.7 19.3 -5.6  NE 12.4 22.2 -9.7 
AZ 12.6 16.7 -4.2  NV 12.1 17.4 -5.3 
AR 13.9 15.7 -1.8  NH 14.3 19.3 -5.0 
CA 13.5 17.1 -3.6  NJ 10.6 17.8 -7.1 
CO 14.6 20.3 -5.7  NM 11.1 16.7 -5.6 
CT 13.5 17.7 -4.2  NY 13.5 18.8 -5.3 
DE 12.5 18.6 -6.1  NC 11.1 15.9 -4.8 
DC 16.4 28.1 -11.7 ND 17.9 26.7 -8.7 
FL 12.1 17.0 -4.8  OH 13.1 19.6 -6.5 
GA 10.8 14.3 -3.6  OK 9.1  13.2 -4.1 
HI 15.7 19.4 -3.7  OR 13.9 17.2 -3.2 
ID 12.7 17.2 -4.5  PA 16.3 20.4 -4.2 
IL 16.2 20.8 -4.7  RI 11.2 17.3 -6.1 
IN 13.5 18.8 -5.3  SC 12.6 18.7 -6.1 
IA 14.7 23.1 -8.3  SD 12.6 21.2 -8.6 
KS 11.4 17.5 -6.1  TN 10.5 14.2 -3.7 
KY 9.7  17.4 -7.8  TX 15.2 18.9 -3.7 
LA 13.4 18.6 -5.1  UT 11.3 12.9 -1.5 
ME 13.3 20.0 -6.6  VT 13.4 19.9 -6.5 
MD 11.9 16.2 -4.4  VA 12.0 17.1 -5.1 
MA 14.6 18.9 -4.3  WA 12.4 17.6 -5.2 
MI 14.5 21.0 -6.5  WV 8.2  13.5 -5.3 
MN 16.7 22.6 -6.0  WI 21.6 25.4 -3.8 
MS 7.0  15.1 -8.2  WY 15.5 19.4 -3.9 

Source: Authors' calculations using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. U.S. values were calculated based on the summation of state values. Persons living in institutions are not included. See dhds.cdc.gov/methods for more detail.
[1] The difference in percentage points between people who binge drink with and without a disability.
Table 7.5 Health Care Coverage—Among Persons Ages 18 and Over by Disability Services: 2016
State Health Care Coverage (%) Gap (% pts) [1]   State Health Care Coverage (%) Gap (% pts) [1]
Disability No Disability Disability No Disability
U.S. 88.1 88.8 -0.7 MO 87.0 89.8 -2.8
AL 86.7 87.6 -0.9 MT 90.5 89.8 0.6 
AK 86.4 90.3 -3.9 NE 85.4 88.5 -3.1
AZ 88.7 87.5 1.2  NV 84.9 85.5 -0.6
AR 91.1 89.3 1.8  NH 92.4 93.8 -1.4
CA 90.7 89.0 1.7  NJ 90.7 89.1 1.6 
CO 91.5 89.0 2.5  NM 92.3 89.6 2.6 
CT 92.7 93.3 -0.6 NY 91.3 90.7 0.6 
DE 90.7 91.5 -0.8 NC 83.6 87.6 -4.0
DC 91.1 95.9 -4.8 ND 89.9 93.1 -3.2
FL 82.9 84.3 -1.4 OH 93.6 93.0 0.5 
GA 80.8 84.2 -3.4 OK 84.0 86.2 -2.2
HI 94.1 93.1 0.9  OR 90.8 91.1 -0.3
ID 84.5 84.9 -0.4 PA 93.7 93.1 0.6 
IL 89.3 91.6 -2.3 RI 94.0 92.5 1.6 
IN 88.1 89.3 -1.2 SC 84.9 88.2 -3.2
IA 94.1 93.4 0.8  SD 89.8 92.3 -2.5
KS 84.3 88.4 -4.0 TN 84.0 90.8 -6.9
KY 94.9 94.0 0.9  TX 79.8 78.3 1.5 
LA 85.9 86.7 -0.8 UT 86.7 89.3 -2.6
ME 89.9 91.7 -1.8 VT 94.2 95.1 -0.8
MD 93.0 91.7 1.2  VA 83.9 90.1 -6.2
MA 93.5 94.6 -1.1 WA 92.2 91.2 1.0 
MI 91.6 92.1 -0.5 WV 94.1 91.7 2.4 
MN 93.3 93.8 -0.5 WI 90.8 91.5 -0.8
MS 83.5 83.7 -0.2 WY 86.3 86.0 0.3 

Source: Authors' calculations using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. U.S. values were calculated based on the summation of state values. Persons living in institutions are not included. See dhds.cdc.gov/methods for more detail.
[1] The difference in percentage points between people with health insurance coverage with and without a disability.