Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health are conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play (that) affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. They are the barriers to health upstream from our traditional health care system—things like poor education, low income or lack of transportation, as well as food insecurity and loneliness.

Addressing unhealthy days by identifying the root cause

With community partners and healthcare practices, we are creating evidence-based, scalable and financially-sustainable solutions to improve population health at a local level

Healthy Days Guide

Bold Goal Brochure

Tackling food insecurity

Food insecurity is a societal issue that affects 1 in 8 people in the United States.

Addressing loneliness and social isolation

The senior population, one of the highest risk groups for for experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation, is growing as baby boomers age and people live longer.

Improving access to transportation

Transportation for America found that more than half of the U.S. non-driving population age 65 and over stays home on any given day because they don’t have transportation.

The Effect of Social Determinants of Health

Disease is a natural part of aging, but barriers outside of the clinical setting - like access to healthy food, transportation and social connections - can exacerbate those conditions. These barriers are social determinants of health, and addressing these in members are critical to improving Healthy Days and whole-person health.

Physically Unhealthy

Mentally Unhealthy

Number of Unhealthy Days per 30-Day Period

Inadequate Social  Emotional Support

0.42

0.59

Uninsured

0.31

0.60

Food Insecurity

0.48

0.37

Severe Housing Problem

0.16

0.64

Not Proficient in English

0.16

0.59

Violent Crime

0.16

0.53

Physical Inactivity

0.31

0.21

Preventable Hospital Stays

0.25

0.32

Some College

0.2

0.32

Couldn’t See Doctor  Due to Cost

0.2

0.32

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.1

1.2

Humana is actively addressing loneliness and social isolation, food insecurity and lack of transportation due to their direct impact on Healthy Days and clinical outcomes.

Increased risks associated with loneliness or social isolation

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

50%

60%

30%

More likely to be diabetic

More likely to have Congestive Heart Failure

Report at least one activity of daily living limitation

Increased risks associated with food-insecure seniors

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

50%

60%

30%

More likely to be diabetic

More likely to have Congestive Heart Failure

Report at least one activity of daily living limitation

Risks associated with a lack of transportation

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

50%

60%

30%

More likely to be diabetic

More likely to have Congestive Heart Failure

Report at least one activity of daily living limitation

Improving population health starts with understanding the whole person

60% of health is impacted by our social factors, environmental conditions and lifestyle behaviors.

Considering all factors that influence good health is a driving force to meet our shared goal of improved health outcomes. We integrate social determinants in all that we do through our clinical capabilities, pharmacy, behavioral health, and home care support, and we aim to help our physicians and partners as they address social determinants of their patients in the clinical setting.

Supporting the physician-patient relationship