Worst States for Health Care in the US: 2024
Get a quick look at the US worst states for health care ranked using a composite score that included measures of cost, access, and outcomes.
Health care in the US can be expensive, but, high medical costs do not always translate to better results. The US currently falls behind several other wealthy nations on health coverage, life expectancy, and disease burden, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Health care conditions are not the same across the US, which is why a recent WalletHub study examined in which states Americans are more likely to get the worst health care. The study compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 44 measures of cost, access, and outcomes. Considered were factors including hospital beds and physicians per capita, percentage of adults with insurance, infant mortality rate, and more.
Highest average monthly insurance premium: West Virginia
Fewest hospital beds per capita: Utah
Fewest physicians per capita: Idaho
Fewest dentists per capita: Tennessee
Lowest % of medical residents retained: District of Columbia
Lowest % of insured adults aged 19-64 years: Texas
Lowest % of insured children aged 18 years and younger: Texas
Highest infant mortality rate: Mississippi
Highest cancer rate: Kentucky
Highest stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) rate: West Virginia
Highest % of at-risk adults without a routine MD visit in past 2 years: New Mexico
