This paper examines variations in current economic welfare attributable to different profiles or histories of health status over the preceding ten year period. A two-equation model, estimated with National Longitudinal Survey data for four sex-race groups, provides convincing evidence that health problems incurred in the past adversely affect current earnings. This legacy is difficult to overcome; it remains even for individuals in improving health willing to devote relatively greater effort to market work. A history of poor health is also shown to exact substantially different economic tolls from men and women as well as from whites and blacks.