A recent study found Collier County has some interesting and contradictory health stats. 

Overall, Collier County has some of the healthiest people in the country. Their residents have healthy eating and exercise habits, which has translated into a population that is living longer.

However, the area also has a pretty low health insurance coverage rate.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which tracks health statistics, about 30 percent of the county is uninsured.

That’s higher than the state average and almost 20 percent higher than the national average.

But Allen Weiss, the President and CEO of Naples Community Health Care System, said this doesn’t necessarily mean bad things in terms of public health.

“The bigger argument is to even get away from the insurance argument, but that we should be into preventative care and we should be trying to close hospitals,” he said.

Weiss says hospitals and health insurance are meant to treat what public health officials call “catastrophic” health incidents.

He said practicing good habits like eating well and exercising are the best way to avoid the need for a hospital.

“We want to keep people out of the hospital and we want to keep then well,” Weiss said. “What about building more walking paths? Rather than putting more money into health care? What about putting the calorie counts on menu items in restaurants? Or offering half size portions but charging two-thirds the amount, so people will be encouraged to eat less?”

Weiss said he wants Collier County to eventually become a “Blue Zone” – which is an area or demographic where people are living considerably longer lives. In the U.S., our only Blue Zone is in Loma Linda, California.