These are the best and worst states for healthcare in 2026, data suggests

Finding affordable healthcare is a challenge for millions of Americans who want their health care needs met without breaking the bank to do so.

Although the costs of healthcare vary nationwide, some areas may offer more affordable options than others and WalletHub explored this in a new report analyzing the best and worst states for healthcare in the U.S. 

To gather their data, the personal finance website collected data by comparing 50 states and Washington, D.C. using 44 key metrics.

Best states for health care in 2026

Local perspective:

Rankings of the best and worst states for healthcare using three main categories: "cost," "access," and "outcomes." These categories were assessed using 44 metrics which were graded on a 100-point scale, with a perfect score representing the best healthcare at a reasonable cost. 

1. New Hampshire
2. Minnesota
3. Iowa
4. Rhode Island
5. Hawaii
6. Massachusetts
7. Maine
8. Wisconsin
9. Colorado
10. Nebraska

Worst states for health care in 2026

1. Alaska
2. Mississippi
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. West Virginia
6. Alabama
7. Louisiana
8. New Mexico
9. Arkansas
10. Tennessee

See the full list of state rankings here. 

A closer look at the best states for healthcare

Dig deeper:

WalletHub ranked New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Iowa as the top three states for healthcare as researchers offered an analysis of each state. 

New Hampshire

WalletHub ranked New Hampshire as the best state for healthcare, with the second-lowest out-of-pocket medical spending in the nation. State residents also have the lowest average monthly health insurance premium at $469.

New Hampshire also has the 10th-most nurses per capita and fifth-most physician assistants per capita, and the most urgent care centers per capita certified by the Urgent Care Association of America, according to WalletHub’s report. 

Furthermore, the state also has the fourth-lowest number of residents with heart attacks, the lowest occurrence of strokes, and the fourth-lowest prevalence of type-2 diabetes in the U.S.

Minnesota

Minnesota ranks as the second-best state for healthcare because it has the highest number of convenient care clinics per capita and has the seventh-lowest average out-of-pocket medical spending and the eighth-lowest average monthly insurance premium. WalletHub noted that the state also has a low average cost for dental visits. 

The state also has the eighth-best public hospital system in the U.S., and residents have the seventh-highest life expectancy. According to WalletHub, Minnesota has a low maternal mortality rate, and the lowest amount of time for the average person to receive medical attention at the emergency room.

Iowa

Iowa is third on the list, with the eighth-lowest out-of-pocket medical spending in the U.S., at only 7.9% of their income. 

According to WalletHub, the state also offers quality access to medical care, with the fifth-shortest emergency room wait time and 10th-highest number of hospital beds per capita. 

In Iowa, approximately 93% of adults and 97% of children have health insurance, representing the eighth highest and seventh-highest percentages in the nation. Additionally, the state has the third-best hospital system in the U.S., and residents are among the least likely to skip doctor visits due to cost.

 

HealthEconomy