Illinois is the 25th-worst state for healthcare, according to a new WalletHub study that compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 44 key metrics highlighting the cost, accessibility and effectiveness of each state's healthcare system. Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare differs greatly from state to state, and it remains out of reach for many people.
The average American spends nearly $15,500 annually on personal healthcare, according to the latest CMS estimates. However, high spending doesn't always translate into better outcomes. The U.S. trails several other wealthy nations in health coverage, life expectancy and access to care, despite spending more than any nation, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
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“Healthcare has two crucial components, cost and quality. The best healthcare in the nation isn't helpful if it bankrupts the people who try to get it, and cheap healthcare may not lead to the best outcomes,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Therefore, the best states for healthcare are those that make high-quality care affordable, on top of providing many options for doctors and making insurance easily accessible.”
In-Depth Look at Illinois
Illinois has the second-most dentists and the fourth-most convenient care clinics per capita, making medical care more accessible, even without an appointment. The state also has the seventh-lowest share of people whose out-of-pocket medical spending is 10% or more of their income.
However, Illinois has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the state has the fifth-fewest physician assistants per capita. It also has the sixth-fewest nurse practitioners per capita.
How Illinois Ranks in Key Categories
- 26th for Cost
- 24th for Access
- 28th for Outcomes
This puts Illinois in 27th place out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in WalletHub's study.
States With the Best Healthcare
Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Cost Rank | Access Rank | Outcomes Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Hampshire | 68.63 | 2 | 17 | 1 |
2 | Minnesota | 66.72 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
3 | Iowa | 65.39 | 1 | 29 | 12 |
4 | Rhode Island | 63.44 | 13 | 10 | 9 |
5 | Hawaii | 63.08 | 25 | 23 | 3 |
6 | Massachusetts | 62.67 | 40 | 4 | 2 |
7 | Maine | 61.55 | 23 | 3 | 19 |
8 | Wisconsin | 61.37 | 24 | 6 | 13 |
9 | Colorado | 61.32 | 36 | 5 | 7 |
10 | Nebraska | 60.91 | 21 | 8 | 16 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
