Pennsylvania is the 13th-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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania displays some notable strengths when it comes to healthcare, including the eighth-most physicians and the sixth-most EMTs and paramedics per capita. It also has the eighth-lowest share of very young children who lack immunizations.
However, Pennsylvania has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the state has the 10th-fewest nurse practitioners per capita. It also has the 11th-highest share of adults who have had a heart attack.
How Pennsylvania Ranks in Key Categories
- 12th for Cost
- 18th for Access
- 18th for Outcomes
This puts Pennsylvania in 13th 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.
