Although no state is spared from the economic impacts of disease, there is an almost 60% disparity in disease burden per capita between the states with the highest and lowest burdens.

One fundamental lesson of 2020 is that health and the economy are inextricably linked, with the pandemic reducing real GDP by as much as 11%. Rethinking health as investment, not just an expense, can not only improve the health of millions of Americans but also accelerate economic growth, according to a new report from McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).

Every year, MGI estimates that poor health costs the United States around 16% of real GDP from premature deaths and lost productive potential among the working-age population. Without action, this is expected to get worse. Over the next two decades, the U.S. disease burden is forecast to increase by about 20% as age-and lifestyle-related diseases rise, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and neurological disorders.