The conditions in which we live, learn, work and play impact our health long before we ever see a doctor. Good health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office. It begins with our families and in our homes, schools, workplaces and community.

Genetics aside, decades of research show factors impacting a person’s health are related to basic needs being met. Examples include¹:

• Healthy food
• Access to care
• Affordable housing
• Available transportation
• Quality education
• Jobs that provide more than just a living wage
• Healthy physical environments
• Communities with safe spaces for residents to create connections

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Factors contributing to a person’s overall health: 40% Socioeconomic factors, 10% Physical environment, 30% Health behaviors, 20% Health care²

As the leading health insurance company in both states, Wellmark believes all Iowans and South Dakotans should have the opportunity to live a long, healthy life. That’s why our team is collaborating with other like-minded and passionate partners to meaningfully and measurably address the greatest barriers to optimal health.

Creating a positive ripple effect to improve health

While the vast majority of health care is largely focused on “downstream prevention” by providing care for those already affected by health issues, we also need to address the root causes and behaviors that lead to how long and well we live. Addressing these factors is often referred to as "going upstream.”

Wellmark has a dedicated team focused on improving the communities where people live and their economic conditions to empower all Iowans and South Dakotans to make choices that lead to long, healthy lives.

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Upstream - communities and economic conditions; Midstream - health behaviors; Downstream - health care

The Wellmark Foundation: Investing in change

The Wellmark Foundation is a charitable foundation with a mission to fund initiatives that positively impact the health of Iowans and South Dakotans. The Foundation focuses on efforts to create lasting change in our states by addressing upstream barriers to health.

Interested in partnering with us?

The Wellmark Foundation continuously evaluates and seeks the right partners and resources to collaboratively deploy proven solutions that create substantial and sustainable change.

Please use this alignment tool to see if your organization’s request aligns with the current focus areas of Wellmark’s corporate sponsorships or The Wellmark Foundation.

Taking action through The Wellmark Foundation

Thriving youth

Young people are the future of our country, and our youth are in crisis and face increasing rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress and aggression. Alarmingly, suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 – 24 in Iowa and South Dakota (a 30 percent increase over the past 20 years).³

Healthy moms and babies

A mother's health before, during, and after childbirth plays a critical role in the healthy development of her child. Poor maternal and child health outcomes have significant and lasting consequences on the well-being of mothers, babies, families, caregivers and communities. Research underscores that the first 1,000 days — from conception to age two — are pivotal for a child’s physical growth, brain development, metabolism and immune system.⁴ Unfortunately, the 2024 March of Dimes report reveals rising infant mortality rates across the nation, including in Iowa⁵ and South Dakota⁶.

Healthy rural residents

When an individual’s basic needs are not met, achieving a long, healthy life becomes increasingly challenging due to unequal access to the “upstream” factors that influence the well-being of communities. Rural residents — 1 in 3 Iowans and 1 in 2 South Dakotans — face higher rates of mortality and less access to resources and health care than their urban counterparts.⁷

Accessible mental health care

Access to mental health care is a major challenge in both Iowa and South Dakota, particularly in rural communities and among low-income populations. All but four of Iowa’s rural counties and all of South Dakota’s counties are documented as mental health professional shortage areas.⁸ Key barriers include provider burnout and workforce turnover, limited understanding of how to navigate the mental health care system, and a geographic mismatch of provider access compared to where residents live.