When we think about health, we often focus on medical factors like doctors&rsquo; visits and medications. And those are really important! But think about this: if someone struggles to find healthy food or safe housing, their health can be affected &ndash; no matter how great their medical care is.

Our health is also shaped by the world around us &ndash; where we live, work, and grow. These nonmedical factors are called social drivers of health (sometimes called social determinants of health), and they have a huge impact on our overall well-being.
To put it in perspective, the life expectancy in Scottsdale is 85, while it&rsquo;s 71 in South Phoenix, only 13 miles away.

Let&rsquo;s look at three key examples of social drivers of health.
<ol>
 <li>
 Access to healthy food. Eating nutritious meals is essential for good health, but for many people, fresh food isn&rsquo;t easy to come by. Some communities have more fast-food chains than grocery stores. In areas known as food deserts, people have limited access to affordable, healthy options like fruits and veggies, because grocery stores are too far away.</li>
 <li>
 Stable housing. Having a safe place to live is fundamental to good health. But when people face housing insecurity - whether due to high rent, <a href="https://www.azblue.com/inspire-health/blog/phoenix-starfish-place-first-step-to-a-fresh-start" target="_self">unsafe conditions</a>, or homelessness &ndash; it can lead to stress, poor mental health, and a higher risk of chronic illness.</li>
 <li>
 Reliable transportation. Getting to medical appointments, the grocery store, or work often depends on <a href="https://www.azblue.com/inspire-health/blog/community-partner-highlight-elaines-rides-transform-lives" target="_self">reliable transportation</a>. When public transit is limited or a personal car isn&rsquo;t an option, it can create barriers to getting essential care and meeting basic needs.
 </li>
</ol>
<h5>How AZ Blue is making a difference</h5>

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, our Medicaid team, meets members where they are, addressing needs like food insecurity. In 2024, Health Choice partnered with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hotfood.org/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAzba9BhBhEiwA7glbavoGC0J1P378sgRbF-xxmwKetJ_lFy9GzPA7q1ak7x7iKcVSQh-tPxoCmZgQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Flagstaff Family Food Center</a> to host food distribution events in Apache and Navajo counties, connecting hundreds of community members to healthy food. More to come this year!

Also, the<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.azbluefoundation.org/" target="_blank"> AZ Blue Foundation</a> funds organizations that address social drivers of health. In 2024, the Foundation helped provide:

<ul>
 <li>Nearly a million nutrition services, like <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.azblue.com/inspire-health/blog/community-parter-highlight-advance-community" target="_blank">food boxes</a> and meal programs.</li>
 <li>
 Thousands of housing services, like shelter support.</li>
 <li>
 Hundreds of transportation services, like rides to medical appointments.</li>
</ul>

AZ Blue employees volunteer all over the state to advance health equity. Check out our latest volunteer opportunity with Keys to Change &ndash; you can get involved too!

Learn how: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://keystochangeaz.org/#get-involved" target="_blank">Keys to Change (Arizona) | formerly Human Services Campus, LLC (Phoenix)</a>.
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What are Social Drivers of Health?

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