Certain groups of people are at higher risk of low health literacy and these include people who are age 65 and over, racial and ethnic minorities, people with less than a high school education, and people who live in poverty. People who live in rural areas, who are either covered by Medicare or Medicaid, or have no health insurance, are also more likely to have low health literacy. 

Percent of Arkansas population with low health literacy

Data Source: The Rand Corporation Health Literacy Estimates, 2012

Per Person Health care costs related to low health literacy

Data Source:  “The Economic Impact of Low Health Literacy in Arkansas,” Journal of The Arkansas Medical Society, 2017

Low health literacy is a problem because it can lead to poor health and poor quality of life. People who struggle to understand and use health information are more likely to have less knowledge about diseases and conditions, to have serious health problems, and to have serious complications from chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart failure. They are likely to have more emergency room visits, more (or longer) hospital stays, a shorter life expectancy, and higher medical costs. 

Low health literacy also impacts the entire health system which may ultimately result in a higher rate of medical mistakes and higher costs. Low health literacy may lead to the inappropriate use of health services, both in terms of the underuse of needed health services and the overuse of unnecessary services.