Where Bear Creek residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bear Creek, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bear Creek. How CDC estimates town health
Out of every 100 Bear Creek adults…
Bear Creek runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bear Creek
No hospital or community health center in Bear Creek itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bear Creek; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bear Creek adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Bear Creek adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
1 in 3 Bear Creek adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.8% of Bear Creek adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Bear Creek and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bear Creek adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bear Creek
Why doesn’t Bear Creek have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Bear Creek.
What hospital is closest to Bear Creek?
Mercy Medical Center in Merced, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Bear Creek’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Bear Creek?
8 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Chca Merced Alternative Medicine Health Center in Merced, 3.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bear Creek.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.