Methodology

To create the list, WalletHub evaluated all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on 44 metrics across three key dimensions:

• Cost, which includes the cost of medical visits, average monthly insurance premium, and share of high out-of-pocket medical spending
• Access, which includes the quality of public hospital systems, hospital beds per capita, and average ED wait time
• Outcomes, which includes infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, and life expectancy

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best healthcare available at the most reasonable cost. A weighted average across all metrics was used to calculate an overall score and determine a ranking for each state.

The best and worst states for healthcare

According to WalletHub, the 10 best states for healthcare were:

1.       New Hampshire (Score: 68.63)

2.       Minnesota (Score: 66.72)

3.       Iowa (Score: 65.39)

4.       Rhode Island (Score: 63.44)

5.       Hawaii (Score: 63.08)

6.       Massachusetts (Score: 62.67)

7.       Maine (Score: 61.55)

8.       Wisconsin (Score: 61.37)

9.       Colorado (Score: 61.32)

10.   Nebraska (Score: 60.91)

WalletHub also ranked states on each of the key dimensions:

• Cost: Iowa ranked first while Alaska ranked last.
• Access: North Dakota ranked first while Utah ranked last.
• Outcomes: New Hampshire ranked first while Mississippi ranked last.

In addition, WalletHub highlighted the highest- and lowest-performing states in several metrics:

• New Hampshire had the lowest average monthly insurance premium while West Virginia had the highest.
• The District of Columbia had the most hospital beds per capita while Utah had the fewest.
• The District of Columbia had the most physicians per capita while Nevada had the fewest.
• Massachusetts had the highest percentage of insured children and adults while Texas had the lowest percentage.

Commentary

WalletHub spoke to several experts about major issues facing healthcare in 2026, along with what people can do to minimize their health-related expenditures.

Many experts highlighted access and affordability as major issues in healthcare today. Although these issues are not new, recent policy changes could make them even more challenging for both patients and providers.

For example, massive Medicaid funding cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as the recent expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies could lead to millions of people losing their health coverage.

"The number [of uninsured individuals] is almost certain to rise as federal cutbacks to Medicaid and the ACA take effect," said Robert Field, a professor of law, health management, and policy at the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health. "The challenge is to devise a system in which an individual's life and health do not depend on whether they are fortunate enough to have the financial means to access care."

To help minimize health-related costs, Nancy Chun Feng, a professor of accounting at Suffolk University, recommended people focus on preventive care, choose in-network providers, and fully utilize the benefits of their health plans, including telehealth services and wellness providers.

She added that "[m]aintaining a healthy lifestyle remains one of the most effective ways to lower long-term healthcare spending."

"To reduce healthcare costs, consumers are encouraged to maintain good health, explore more affordable treatment options, and avoid unnecessary medical services," said Charles Yang, a finance professor at Florida Atlantic University.

He added that"[l]owering medical expenses requires collaboration among all stakeholders, including consumers of medical services, insurers, regulators, and policymakers."