State by state

The best and worst states for health care in 2019

Hawaii and Massachusetts offer their residents the best overall health care, according to U.S. News and World Report. See which other states are the best—and the worst—for health care.

In addition to stunning beaches, abundant sunshine and fresh citrus fruit year-round, Hawaii’s residents also enjoy the best health care in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, which ranked health care in all 50 states.

In calculating the rankings, U.S. News gave equal weight to health care access, overall health care quality and public health in each state.

To evaluate health care access in each state, the publisher examined wellness and dental visits, health care affordability and health insurance enrollment. U.S. News measured quality by looking at the quality of a state’s hospitals and nursing homes, among other factors. Each state’s mental health, mortality rate, suicide rate, smoking rate and obesity rate helped determine its overall public health score.

The top 10 best states for health care in 2019

1. Hawaii

2. Massachusetts

3. Connecticut

4. Washington

5. Rhode Island

6. New Jersey

7. California

8. Maryland

9. Utah

10. Minnesota

The 10 worst states for health care in 2019

1. Mississippi

2. Arkansas

3. West Virginia

4. Oklahoma

5. Alabama

6. Louisiana

7. Kentucky

8. Tennessee

9. Wyoming

10. Missouri

Related reading:

Best and worst states for doctors in 2019: Where docs can thrive, according to Medscape

Best and worst states for doctors in 2019: See where your state landed

3 comments

  1. Jana Marjenhoff, DO

    Do not forget New Mexico. It is the WORST state in which to practice. The insurers do not pay doctors. And to top it off, we have to pay gross receipts tax on every patient we see!

  2. Michele A. Mirch, DO

    Hawaii might be a nice place to visit but practicing medicine here, especially on one of he neighbor Islands, leaves MUCH to be desired. The Big Island is at least 30 years behind the mainland, especially for children. There is only ONE pediatric hospital in the entire state and it’s 4 islands away on O’ahu. Thus any child needing to see a subspecialist; cardiology, neurology, endocrine, nephrology, urology, dermatology, etc., for an initial evaluation or established follow-up needs to FLY from the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, or Molokai to Honolulu. All of the neighbor Islands are limited to Level 1 Nurseries as well requiring all neonates </= 34 weeks gestation be flown to Honolulu regardless! BTW, on the adult side, our local hospital just opened the first cardiac cath lab on the Island, strictly diagnostic, no intervention. If a Pt goes south in the lab they need to be emergently flown to Honolulu as there are NO cardiothoracic surgeons here.

    1. John

      The way they twist stats to make these lists is insane, and the conclusions they draw is just wrong. That’s incredible. Hopefully HI can Address those things!

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