The National Center for Health Statistics is exploring methods to combine mortality and morbidity rates into a single index to better reflect changes in the nation's health status over time. This paper introduces a technique that uses a life table model to calculate two related indices: the expectation of life free of disability and the expectation of disability. These indices are based on current age-specific disability rates and can be calculated using different definitions of disability, such as the total volume of disability and bed disability. The results presented in the paper show that the expectation of life free of disability in the mid-1960s was about 65 years, compared to a conventional life expectancy of 70 years. The expected lifetime duration of all forms of disability was approximately 5 years, with 2 years before age 65 and 3 years after age 65. Differences in the expectation of disability between males and females are minimal, but significant differences exist between whites and other persons, with whites having a shorter expectation of disability. The expectation of life free of bed disability was about 68 years, and the expectation of bed disability was approximately 2 years. Bed disability primarily affects older individuals, with over 1 year of expected bed disability for those 65 and over. Males have a shorter expectation of bed disability than females, and differences between whites and other persons are not substantial. The paper discusses the advantages and limitations of these indices, noting that they require extensive data and face challenges in interpreting sex differences in disability. Further research is needed to validate the sensitivity of the disability measures over time.The National Center for Health Statistics is exploring methods to combine mortality and morbidity rates into a single index to better reflect changes in the nation's health status over time. This paper introduces a technique that uses a life table model to calculate two related indices: the expectation of life free of disability and the expectation of disability. These indices are based on current age-specific disability rates and can be calculated using different definitions of disability, such as the total volume of disability and bed disability. The results presented in the paper show that the expectation of life free of disability in the mid-1960s was about 65 years, compared to a conventional life expectancy of 70 years. The expected lifetime duration of all forms of disability was approximately 5 years, with 2 years before age 65 and 3 years after age 65. Differences in the expectation of disability between males and females are minimal, but significant differences exist between whites and other persons, with whites having a shorter expectation of disability. The expectation of life free of bed disability was about 68 years, and the expectation of bed disability was approximately 2 years. Bed disability primarily affects older individuals, with over 1 year of expected bed disability for those 65 and over. Males have a shorter expectation of bed disability than females, and differences between whites and other persons are not substantial. The paper discusses the advantages and limitations of these indices, noting that they require extensive data and face challenges in interpreting sex differences in disability. Further research is needed to validate the sensitivity of the disability measures over time.