According to the CDC, 88.1 percent of the population has a regular place to go for medical care, but the cost and the quality of health-care service often vary widely from state to state.
The most recent estimates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services say the average American spends more than $10,000 per year on personal health care, including monthly insurance premiums, doctor visit costs and dental visits.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and Washington, D.C., on the quality of health care they offer, including health-care costs, consumer access and patient outcomes for the ranking based on a 100-point scale.
Emergency room waiting times, access to health clinics and the number of doctors, nurses and dentists per capita were also analyzed to determine the outcomes in the ranking.
These, according to WalletHub, are the best states, in ascending order, for health care:
10. Maryland
Cost ranked second, which measured the cost of both medical and dental visits, average monthly insurance rates, and out-of-pocket medical expenses. Maryland had the fewest hospital beds per capita.
9. Iowa
Cost ranked at No. 6, while access to health care was came in at 19. The outcomes rank was a 14, which measures life expectancy, cancer, diabetes and heart disease rates for its residents.
8. Washington, D.C.
Ranked first for cost, the city came in at No. 6 for access to medical care. Having the most physicians and dentist per capita, plus the most hospital beds per capita, contributed to its overall ranking.
7. Colorado
Colorado had the lowest cancer and heart disease rates. The state did well at No. 3 for outcomes, which measures life expectancy and Type 2 Diabetes risks.
6. Rhode Island
Overall, Rhode Island ranked at No.4 for affordable health-care costs. The state ranked third in most physicians per capita. It also had one of the lowest percentage of adults who did not need a doctor and dentist visits in the past year.
5. Hawaii
Despite ranking at No. 35 in the access category, Hawaii took the No. 5 spots in the outcomes and cost categories. With an overall score of 63.08/100, the state had one the largest percentage of people and children medically insured.
4. Minnesota
Minnesota had one of the highest percentages of insured adults aged 16-64 and one of the highest physician Medicare acceptance rates.
3. New Hampshire
The state had one of the highest physician Medicare acceptance rates, and one of the lowest infant mortality rates. The categories the state rated best in were access and outcomes for health care.
2. Massachusetts
Massachusetts came in second in the access and outcomes category. The state had the highest percentage of children and adults insured. The state had the most doctors and dentists per capita.
1. Vermont
Vermont held the top spot for infant mortality rate. The report noted that heart disease was also low in the state.
The full report can be viewed here.
