Iowa is the third-best 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 Iowa
Iowa demonstrates it's one of the best states for healthcare by having the third-best public hospital system in the country. It also has the third-lowest hospital expenses per inpatient day, which means that a long-term hospital stay won't hit your finances as hard as it would in other states.
However, Iowa has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the state has the third-highest prevalence of cancer. It also has the eighth-lowest share of medical residents who stay in the state after completing their training there.
How Iowa Ranks in Key Categories
- First for Cost
- 29th for Access
- 12th for Outcomes
This puts Iowa in third 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.
