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–Not graded
Health in Bear Lake · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Bear Lake residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bear Lake, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bear Lake. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
17.8%
About the same as MI (19.4%)
Obesity
34.8%
About the same as MI (36.2%)
No exercise
25%
About the same as MI (24.9%)
Uninsured
6.2%
About the same as MI (6.9%)
Feel lonely
32%
About the same as MI (32.4%)
Nearest ER
12 mi
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
What stands out

What stands out about health in Bear Lake

12.1%worry about food · MI 15.4%
★ What stands out · Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Bear Lake adults worry about having enough food
12.1% · MI 15.4%
Better than MI
1 in 10
Bear Lake adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 14
Bear Lake adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.9% · MI 8.7%
Better than MI
1 in 14
Bear Lake adults lack reliable transportation
6.9% · MI 8.3%
Better than MI

10.8% of Bear Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Bear Lake adults…

On every condition, Bear Lake is about the same as Michigan. Tap one to see it as people.

34 of every 100 Bear Lake adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 29.9–38.6%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Bear Lake

No hospital or community health center in Bear Lake itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMunson Healthcare Manistee HospitalManistee · 12 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMunson Healthcare Manistee Hospital★★★★★ · 12.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNorthwest Michigan Health ServicesManistee · 13.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12 mi
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
Manistee · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
13.5 mi
Northwest Michigan Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Manistee
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.8 mi
Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital
Frankfort · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
32.7 mi
Corewell Health Ludington Hospital
Ludington · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
34.2 mi
Munson Medical Center
Traverse City · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
34.8 mi
Traverse Health Clinic and Coalition
Traverse City · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
Directions
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Bear Lake itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Bear Lake itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Bear Lake itself

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; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 25%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.1%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 17.5%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 14.2%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Bear Lake, betterBear Lake, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Bear Lake gets moving

0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

1Hopkins Park3 acres
Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Bear Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.

80%Yearly checkupMI 80%
69%Dentist visitMI 68%
87%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
71%Colon screeningMI 69%
75%MammogramMI 77%
77%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bear Lake 6.2% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Bear Lake adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Bear Lake adults feel lonely
32% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Bear Lake adults lack social or emotional support
22.3% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Bear Lake adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.4% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 6Bear Lake adults are in frequent mental distress
17.8% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Bear Lake adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Bear Lake and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

30.9%

of Bear Lake adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.7%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing7.3%
Errands alone8.3%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.4%
Michigan

Questions about health in Bear Lake

Why doesn’t Bear Lake 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.

What hospital is closest to Bear Lake?

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital in Manistee, 12.0 miles in a straight line from Bear Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bear Lake.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.