Best and worst states for children’s healthcare
Massachusetts is the best state in the nation when it comes to children’s healthcare, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.
The ranking looked at all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and compared 33 key indicators of cost, quality and access to children’s healthcare. While roughly 95% of children between 0 and 18 have health insurance to protect them if they become ill, parents still face high healthcare costs. And the disparity across states when it comes to cost and access is wide.
On average, American workers pay $6,100 per year toward employer-sponsored family coverage. Other families may qualify for health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid, but those without government assistance may find the cost of healthcare for their families a challenge.
WalletHub’s ranking underscores the differences between states and the impact on children’s health.
Here are the top 15 best states for healthcare:
- Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Hawaii
- New York
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Minnesota
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- Iowa
- Washington
The top state, Massachusetts, was No. 1 when it came to kids’ nutrition, physical activity and obesity. The state also scored fifth overall for kids’ health and access to healthcare. In addition, Massachusetts was No. 1 when it came to the percentage of uninsured children. By comparison, Texas, at the bottom of the ranking, had eight times more uninsured children than Massachusetts. Massachusetts also had one of the lowest infant death rates in the nation (No. 3 overall).
In comparison to the top states, those ranked among the worst for children’s healthcare had higher percentages of overweight and obese children, a lower percentage of children with excellent/very good health, higher infant death rates and fewer pediatricians and family doctors per capita.
Mississippi, which was ranked at the worst state in the nation for children’s healthcare, came in last for the percentage of children in excellent or very good health.
Here are the 10 worst states for children’s healthcare:
- Mississippi
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Wyoming
- Indiana
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- New Mexico
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."