Minnesota the best state for healthcare, Alaska the worst, WalletHub says
Colorado had the lowest rate of heart disease, New Mexico had the lowest cancer rate, and California had the lowest infant mortality rate.
Minnesota is overall the top state in the United States for healthcare, according to a new analysis by WalletHub.
Analysts at WalletHub measured the impact of geography on the healthcare industry, looking costs, access and outcomes using 29 metrics ranging from out-of-pocket medical spending to number of physicians per capita and child mortality rate. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the best healthcare.
Minnesota, which earned a total aggregate score of 67.37. But the state didn't pull in at no. 1 in the individual categories of costs, access and outcomes, but ranked highly enough in each to come out on top. Minnesota did rank first when it came to states with the lowest average monthly insurance premium and third among states with the highest physician Medicare acceptance rates.
Having the best healthcare costs ranking helped Maryland land at no. 2 on the overall list; the state tied with Kansas for third on the list of states with the lowest average monthly insurance premiums. Kansas came in sixth on the overall list, and third among states with the best costs.
[Also: See how CMS 5-star hospitals stack up in other ratings programs]
The District of Columbia performed poorly in terms of health outcomes, landing the 42nd spot in that category, but came in came in ninth on the overall lists due to strong showings in cost and access.
Hawaii, by contrast, ranked first in outcomes but dead last in access. The state still managed to secure no. 7 on the overall list.
Alaska was deemed the worst overall state for healthcare, landing in the middle of the pack when it came to access and outcomes but last when it came to costs. It was among the states with the highest average monthly insurance premium, and the lowest percentage of children with health insurance.
Among other findings: Colorado had the lowest rate of heart disease; New Mexico had the lowest cancer rate; and California had the lowest infant mortality rate, as well as the highest percentage of medical residents retained.
Twitter: @JELagasse
