Preventable differences in life expectancy are increasing across social groups, often shortening lives by decades. More than genetics or healthcare access, the conditions in which we are born, live, work, and age — and our access to power, money, and resources — shape our health outcomes. Living in areas with poor housing, limited education, and scarce job opportunities increases the risk of illness and early death. These factors are known as social determinants of health equity — the non-medical root causes of ill health.