What state has the highest medical bills?

Asked by: Dr. Jeffry Upton  |  Last update: August 13, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (31 votes)

Comparing historical state rankings through 2020, California consistently had the highest level of total personal health care spending, together with the highest total population in the nation.

What state has the highest medical debt?

But, some states exceed these comparatively low percentages by more than 10 points. South Dakota has the highest percentage of adults owing money for health care services, with 17.7 percent of all adults—around 100,000 people—currently holding medical debt.

Which state has the highest medical costs?

5 Most Expensive States for Healthcare
  • Alaska. If you're living in Alaska, you're probably feeling the pressure of high healthcare costs. ...
  • Vermont. Vermont has the highest cost in the country of silver plan insurance premium coverage. ...
  • South Dakota. ...
  • Wyoming. ...
  • West Virginia. ...
  • Maryland. ...
  • Arkansas.

Which state has the best medical coverage?

  • Hawaii. #1 in Health Care. #34 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Massachusetts. #2 in Health Care. #10 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Connecticut. #3 in Health Care. #20 in Best States Overall. ...
  • New Jersey. #4 in Health Care. ...
  • Rhode Island. #5 in Health Care. ...
  • California. #6 in Health Care. ...
  • Maryland. #7 in Health Care. ...
  • New York. #8 in Health Care.

What state has the worst insurance rates?

Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Florida, and Colorado are the most expensive states for homeowners insurance. Oklahoma has the highest average cost of homeowners insurance in the U.S. at $5,858 per year.

Medical bills largest source of U.S. debt, study says

41 related questions found

What state ranks lowest in healthcare?

Minnesota is the best state for healthcare when it comes to affordability and quality and Mississippi is the worst, according to WalletHub's 2024 ranking published July 29.

What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?

Americans are no longer taxed for not carrying health insurance. Medical debt contributes to a large number of bankruptcies in America. Access to quality primary care is critical, but doctors have the right to refuse patients without insurance or who are able to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

How much does a 3 day stay in the hospital cost?

It's easy to underestimate how much medical care can cost: Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. The average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

What state has the cheapest healthcare?

  • Hawaii. #1 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Vermont. #2 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Massachusetts. #3 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Iowa. #4 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • South Dakota. #5 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Rhode Island. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Minnesota. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Maine.

Which state has the most expensive hospital?

Oregon, California, and Washington are the most expensive three states overall for inpatient hospital care.

What state has the highest rate of doctors?

Washington, D.C. has the most primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents, while Idaho has the least, according to KFF data published in February and 2024 U.S. Census data.

What race has the most medical debt?

African Americans incur substantial medical debt compared with Whites, and more than 40% of this is mediated by health status, income, and insurance disparities.

Which states have highest debts?

On a per capita basis, Connecticut's $27,031 total liabilities per capita are worst in the nation, followed by New Jersey. Reason Foundation finds California has twice the total liabilities of any other state. California had $498 billion in total liabilities at the end of fiscal year 2022.

Do hospitals write off unpaid medical bills?

There is no one, clear cut answer to the question of whether hospitals write off unpaid medical bills. Some hospitals do this a lot, some do not do it at all, and there is a wide range of hospitals in between. Many factors go into how and if, a hospital writes off an individual's bill.

How much does an IV cost at the hospital without insurance?

Depending on the medication type and dosage, the cost of infusion therapy can range from $200 to $1,000 or more per treatment, with many patients needing multiple weekly or monthly treatments. For perspective, a year of infusion therapy treatment can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

What if I need surgery but can't afford my deductible?

In cases like this, we recommend contacting your insurance, surgeon, or hospital and asking if they can help you with a payment plan. Remember that your surgery provider wants to get paid so they may be very willing to work with you on a payment plan.

What is the most expensive surgery in the US?

Heart transplants top the list as the most expensive medical procedure in 2024. The complexity of the surgery, the need for donor matching, and the lifelong post-transplant care contribute to the high cost. The average cost of a heart transplant in the United States is approximately $1.3 million.

Can you ignore medical bills?

Well, no. Depending on the state, hospitals and providers could still sue, foreclose, or affect the chance of a person getting hired or being able to rent an apartment. “All the other ways to collect continue,” a CFPB official told me.

Which state does not require health insurance?

New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia require their residents to have health insurance coverage or face penalties. Vermont recommends that residents have coverage, but there's no noncompliance penalty.

Which health insurance denies the most claims?

According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.

What state is #1 in quality of life?

Overall, the study ranked Massachusetts as the best place to live in the U.S. thanks in part to the state's education and health, (where it ranked first in the country), and their quality of life, (where it ranked sixth). Other states that rounded out the top five were Florida, New Jersey, Utah and New Hampshire.

What state is the hardest to get Medicaid in?

The worst, in order from 50th to 41st, are in Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri.