Cassidy Horton, Kelly Anne Smith
Mar 18, 2024
If you’ve ever felt the pinch of healthcare expenses, you’re not alone.
Unexpected medical bills and the cost of healthcare services are the top two financial worries for Americans this year, according to a recent KFF health tracking poll. The poll found that 45% of adults are very worried about being able to afford unexpected medical bills, while 39% are very worried about their ability to cover the cost of healthcare services.
These financial fears have real-world consequences. The high cost of healthcare is leading some Americans to make tough choices—often at the expense of their health. Nearly two in five adults between the ages of 19 and 64 delayed or skipped healthcare services between 2022 and 2023 because they couldn’t afford it, a survey from The Commonwealth Fund found. This includes putting off doctor visits, medical procedures and prescription drug refills.
But the burden of healthcare costs isn’t distributed evenly across the country. In some states, residents face much steeper healthcare expenses, including higher premiums and deductibles, which make them more likely to delay medical care due to costs.
To shed light on where healthcare costs hit the hardest, our experts conducted an analysis comparing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. across nine key metrics. The findings of this study reveal which states are the most and least expensive for healthcare in 2024.
Key Takeaways
North Carolina ranks as the most expensive state for healthcare, while Hawaii is the most affordable.
Six of the top 10 most expensive states for healthcare are located in the South: North Carolina, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana.
In contrast, the Pacific and West—Hawaii, Washington, California, Nevada and Oregon— account for half of the top 10 most affordable states for healthcare.
Texas residents are the most likely in the nation to report forgoing a doctor’s visit in the past 12 months due to cost (16%).
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