Health

United Way is working to ensure families have access to quality primary health services.

United Way currently supports a diverse array of programs across the health spectrum. Moving forward, United Way will strategically focus its support on proven initiatives that ensure all families have access to care.

Good Health: A United Way Goal

Research shows that people living at or near poverty experience worse health outcomes and are more likely to die prematurely. United Way convened a panel of health experts to identify ways to increase access to healthcare services in underserved communities and provide the resources needed so people can take preventive measures to live healthy lives.

United Way invested more than $19 million of your dollars to help families improve their health by funding programs that provide access to adequate, quality health care services and preventive care. For example, United Way funds Access DuPage, a program that provides comprehensive health care services to approximately 12,000 community members annually. Since each dollar of direct cost service provided by Access DuPage is matched by more than $15 in donated care, Access DuPage is able to provide health care services for less than $400 per enrollee. In 2008, Access DuPage enrollees received more than 28,000 low cost primary care visits, and more than 63,000 prescriptions were filled on their behalf. Helping low-income families access reliable and affordable health care saves each patient an average of $943 each year, and more importantly, helps prevent costly medical problems in the future.