Where Bear Lake Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bear Lake Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49646, 49738, 49633. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bear Lake Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Bear Lake Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Bear Lake Township runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Bear Lake Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
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 Michigan figure falls outside Bear Lake Township’s likely range; Bear Lake Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49646, 49738, 49633, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Bear Lake Township adults…
Bear Lake Township runs above MI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Bear Lake Township is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bear Lake Township as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
223 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Bear Lake Township
No hospital or community health center in Bear Lake Township 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 Lake Township; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Bear Lake Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Bear Lake Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Bear Lake Township 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.
16% of Bear Lake Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Bear Lake Township and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederic Township | C+ | 36.1% | 13.3% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Grayling Township | C− | 37.6% | 14.7% | 17.8% | ZIP 49738 |
| Blue Lake Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Oliver Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Garfield Township | C− | 38.6% | 13.4% | 17.8% | ZIP 49633 |
| Excelsior Township | C− | 38.6% | 13.6% | 18% | ZIP 49646 |
Blue Lake Township and Oliver Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bear Lake Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bear Lake Township
Why doesn’t Bear Lake Township 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 Lake Township.
What hospital is closest to Bear Lake Township?
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital in Grayling, 9.7 miles in a straight line from Bear Lake Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bear Lake Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan 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.