#2 - How Your Zip Code Influences Longevity and Well-Being
From THRIVING IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE by Michael C. Patterson
January 13, 2026 · 16 min · Season 7 · Episode 2
About this episode
This episode explores how state-level public policies and social support systems influence life expectancy in the United States.
Comments? Send me a text message. In this episode of Flourish As You Age, Michael C. Patterson explores the research of Jennifer Karas Montez, showing that life expectancy in the United States is increasingly determined by state-level public policies and systems of social support. Across states and even ZIP codes, differences in wages, healthcare access, education, environmental protections, and safety nets can add—or subtract—years of life. This episode examines how political choices transla...
People in this episode
Host: Michael C. Patterson
Topics covered
- longevity
- public policy
- social support
- healthcare access
- education
- environmental protections
Keywords
- zip code
- longevity
- well-being
- public policies
- healthcare
- education
- social support
Mentioned in this episode
Places: United States
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