During a time when the U.S. health-care system is being tested like never before, the MoneyRates personal finance website has released a new ranking that shows which states are best prepared for the crisis.
The website's annual U.S. health-care ranking looks at factors including existing health status, health insurance coverage, hospital costs, nursing home staffing and capacity of doctor's offices to determine which states offer the best services in terms of quality and cost.
"The MoneyRates.com annual analysis of health care in the United States takes on added significance this year because of the continuing pandemic," the report said.
The following states, in ascending order, scored the highest marks in the ranking:
10. Kentucky
"Though Kentucky ranked near the bottom for self-reported health status, this was overcome by top-15 rankings in five categories: health insurance coverage, nursing care capacity, doctors' office staffing, hospital affordability and health insurance affordability," the report said.
9. Maryland
"While not a spectacular performer in any one category, Maryland earned a top 10 overall ranking by finishing among the top 15 in four categories: health insurance coverage, health status, child immunization and doctors' office staffing," the report said.
8. Virginia
"This ranking is an example of the importance of consistency. While Virginia ranked in the top 10 for just one category (childhood immunization), it was better than median in six other categories to rank eighth overall," the report said.
7. New Hampshire
"The last of four New England states to make the top 10, New Hampshire moves up from eleventh place in each of the prior two studies," the report stated. "New Hampshire has the country's lowest infant mortality rate, which may be due in part to having the third highest childhood immunization rate."
6. Rhode Island
"Edging up one slot from last year, Rhode Island boasts top-10 rankings for health insurance coverage, nursing care staffing and doctors' office staffing," the report said.
5. Connecticut
"Like neighboring Massachusetts, Connecticut has been a top-ten finisher in all three years of this study. It ranks first in the ratio of doctors' office staff to total population and in the top ten in three other categories.
3. (tie) North Dakota
This is the second consecutive third-place ranking for North Dakota," the report said. "The state has the highest concentration of nursing care staff relative to its elderly population and ranked in the top ten in three other categories as well."
3. (tie) Nebraska
"Following two consecutive sixth-place finishes, Nebraska improved three places this year," the report stated. "Nebraska ranked in the top 10 in four categories: reported health status, child immunization, nursing care staffing and health insurance affordability."
2. Massachusetts
"After finishing first in each of the prior two annual studies, Massachusetts remains very strong this year," the report said. "It ranks first in health insurance coverage and child immunization, and in the top 10 in three other categories. Cost is the only drawback—Massachusetts is one of the 10 most expensive states for both hospital stays and health insurance premiums."
1. Iowa
"After ranking fourth in last year's study, Iowa improved to number one with top-ten rankings in four of eight categories. Iowa was below the median state in just one category, ranking 40th for the staffing of doctors' offices relative to the size of its population," the report said.
The full report can be viewed here.
