Introduction 19 2021 Sustainability Report A Modern, High-Performing Health System Our People and Culture Environmental Health Responsible Business Practices Performance Data Advancing health equity Health equity is achieved when every person, regardless of race, gender, location or circumstance, has the opportunity to live their healthiest life. UnitedHealth Group is committed to enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission and supported by our five strategic growth areas. Ultimately, our company is successful when we are able to improve access to affordable, high-quality care for everyone. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized communities and people with fewer economic resources. Health care inequities are rooted in long-standing disparities in health across a broad range of social and economic factors. High health costs and inadequate access are key contributors. Institutional bias in evidence-based care impacts the health status of different populations. Social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, education level and income, are among the many factors that contribute to widening gaps in health and well-being. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more attention to health equity, we know disparities existed well before it occurred. The United Health Foundation’s inaugural Health Disparities Report, released last year, underscored the depth, breadth and persistence of health disparities across the country. We know women had a 70% higher rate of depression than men between 2017-2019. And adults with less than a high school education had a 123% higher rate of frequent mental distress than college graduates in that same time frame. Racial disparities in maternal health have widened since 2005, with Black mothers continuing to face a disproportionately higher rate of mortality over time. Deeply rooted disparities cannot be solved through a singular program or initiative. We see the opportunity to advance health equity in nearly every aspect of our ambition to help build a modern, high-performing health system by improving access, affordability, experiences and outcomes for every person it serves.