Q&A: Healthy Communities, Strong Economies: Why Rural Health Matters to Every Iowa Business

The health of Iowa’s rural communities may not be at the top of your next board meeting agenda. But it impacts many of the large challenges Iowa business leaders face today, from economic growth and community vitality to employee retention and workforce development.

When people struggle to access basic services, including the healthcare they need, the impact extends far beyond individuals and families. It’s felt by schools, local employers and entire communities. And with one in three Iowans living in rural areas, the effects of these issues are felt across our state’s economy.

At Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we work hard every day to make healthcare better. For us, that means more than improving health outcomes. It means helping build communities where businesses can grow, people can thrive and future generations can succeed. Through The Wellmark Foundation, we live this purpose by identifying partnerships that help remove the barriers that prevent people from living long, healthy lives.

As someone who benefitted tremendously from growing up in rural Iowa, I have a lot of passion for the work we do. And with National Rural Health Day coming up in November, I wanted to share a few questions I hear most often and why the answers matter to every Iowa business leader.