Photo: SenorAnderson at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Gays residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gays, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gays. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gays
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Gays
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Cancer is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7.6% across Illinois. In all, Gays runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Gays
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.2%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Gays
57.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 17.5% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Illinois figure falls outside Gays’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Gays adults…
Gays runs above IL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gays adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Gays
No hospital or community health center in Gays 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 Gays; ≈ 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).
How Gays adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Gays 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% of Gays adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Gays 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 Gays adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Gays
Why doesn’t Gays have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Gays.
What hospital is closest to Gays?
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Gays’ 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 Gays?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Sihf Healthcare - Mattoon in Mattoon, 8.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gays.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois 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.