Washington Post analysis links policy decisions to decreased life expectancy in Ohio

A months-long investigation by the Washington Post concludes that decisions made by policymakers over the past several decades have led to poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy for Ohioans compared to those in other states (Source: “How red-state politics are shaving years off American lives,” Washington Post, Oct. 3).

Many of those early deaths can be traced to decisions made years ago by local and state lawmakers over whether to implement cigarette taxes, invest in public health or tighten seat-belt regulations, among other policies, an examination by the Washington Post found.

“States’ politics — and their resulting policies — are shaving years off American lives,” according to the Post.

Ohio has plummeted nationally when it comes to life expectancy rates, moving from middle of the pack to the bottom fifth of states during the last 50 years, the Post found. Ohioans have a similar life expectancy to residents of Slovakia and Ecuador, relatively poor countries.

According to analysis from Jennifer Karas Montez, director of the Center for Aging and Policy Studies at Syracuse University, roughly 1 in 5 Ohioans will die before they turn 65.

HPIO’s 2023 Health Value Dashboard provides additional insight on how Ohio compares to other states and D.C. on a wide range of metrics.