Vermont
Vermont, the land of maple syrup and stunning fall foliage, also boasts the dubious honor of being the priciest for healthcare. Vermonters face some of the highest annual premiums and deductibles in the nation.
South Dakota
South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore, majestic bison, and, unfortunately, the nation's second-highest healthcare costs. The primary driver here is the sky-high average deductible, especially for families, which can feel like climbing the mountain itself.
Tennessee
In Tennessee, the music is smooth, but the healthcare costs are anything but. The state ranks high due to a rough mix of high premiums and significant out-of-pocket expenses. Getting quality care also means shelling out some serious cash, making it tough to hit those ‘high notes’ when the medical bills arrive.
Think everything's bigger in Texas? Wait until you see the healthcare costs!
Think everything's bigger in Texas? Wait until you see the healthcare costs!
Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, so it’s only natural that the financial burden of healthcare also gets included. Texans face some of the nation's highest rates of skipping care due to cost, offering a stark reflection of the financial pressure.
Connecticut
Connecticut has some of the highest average annual premiums for both single and family coverage in the country, with residents paying a hefty premium for access to high-quality facilities and specialized care in the region.
North Carolina
While premiums are somewhat moderate in North Carolina, the state still suffers from one of the country's highest overall costs, with above-average deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. That Southern charm doesn't extend to everything, does it?
From one southern state to another, the medical bills just won't quit…
From one southern state to another, the medical bills just won't quit…
Louisiana
In Louisiana, the gumbo is rich, the atmosphere is electric, and the only thing spicier than the food is the healthcare bill. The state consistently ranks high because residents with employer-provided plans face some of the highest family and plus-one premiums in the entire nation.
Missouri
They call it the "Show-Me State," but what Missouri's really showing its residents is a stack of medical bills they can't afford. The dual combo of astronomical premiums paired with brutal deductibles hits so hard that Missourians routinely skip necessary care because their bank account simply can't take another hit.
Maryland
Maryland's healthcare costs are through the roof (some of the priciest premiums in America), but fewer residents actually skip care compared to cheaper states. However, this is balanced by some of the highest average annual premiums for single coverage in the nation. That crab feast budget might need to be reallocated…
Healthcare expenses are definitely not ‘OK’ with the next state…
Healthcare expenses are definitely not ‘OK’ with the next state…
Oklahoma
Welcome to Oklahoma, where "OK" definitely doesn't describe your medical bills. The state ranks high in expensive healthcare thanks to sky-high deductibles that hit families hard. Premiums aren't terrible, but here's the kicker: the real financial damage happens when you actually need care.
Georgia
Georgia's healthcare costs are far from peachy. The state has one of the highest rates of adults skipping mental health care because they simply can't afford it. Add in above-average premiums and steep deductibles, and you've got a recipe for financial stress.
Kansas
Kansas is famous for rolling plains, but healthcare costs are climbing fast. Residents have to deal with high premiums, steep deductibles, and expensive plus-one coverage that'll make you wince. The result is tons of people struggling with medical bills and skipping care they actually need.
Some of these States might surprise you…
Some of these States might surprise you…
Nebraska
Nebraska might be the Cornhusker State, but there's nothing corny about these healthcare costs. Families here are hit with above-average deductibles and pricey coverage across the board. Even when premiums feel reasonable, those brutal out-of-pocket costs swoop in just in time to ruin everything.
Delaware
Delaware claims "First State" bragging rights, but definitely not for affordable healthcare. Premiums and deductibles run high across individual, plus-one, and family plans; basically, pick your poison. The good news is that fewer people skip healthcare here. The bad news is that it’s probably because they're already paying through the nose for coverage.
West Virginia
Those rugged mountains and beautiful scenery are hiding some seriously steep medical bills. For a state with a pretty low cost of living, West Virginia sure knows how to charge for healthcare, with Individual premiums here ranking among the highest in the country.
All is good with the Big Apple, though, right?
All is good with the Big Apple, though, right?
New York
The Big Apple has world-class hospitals, which is great. But then New Yorkers see the bill and wish they hadn’t pulled through that surgery. The state boasts some of the highest private health insurance premiums in America. Coupled with the high cost of living, it doesn’t seem like there’s much change left for a slice of that famous pizza.
Florida
Retirees flock to Florida for the sunshine, but the healthcare costs? Not so relaxing. Family health coverage premiums here are among the nation's highest, and employer-provided plans aren't much better. The "sunshine tax" is real, and it absolutely extends to your annual medical deductible.
Virginia
Virginia has history, beautiful horses, and historically high healthcare spending per resident. The state does well on access to care (meaning people can actually see doctors), but those elevated annual premiums sting, especially compared to neighboring states.
The neighboring states aren't doing each other any favors…
The neighboring states aren't doing each other any favors…
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania gave us the Declaration of Independence, but not financial freedom when it comes to healthcare. High per-capita health spending and above-average insurance rates keep the state firmly in expensive territory. Add in those high out-of-pocket maximums, and you’ve got a one-way ticket to budget burnout.
New Jersey
Living near New York and Philly comes with perks, but unfortunately for New Jersey, affordable healthcare isn't one of them. The state’s residents constantly deal with sky-high private health insurance premiums and terrible cost-effectiveness rankings. You're paying top dollar for access that doesn't necessarily mean better efficiency.
Mississippi
Mississippi has a low cost of living, which sounds great on the surface. But the state struggles with staggering rates of unmet health needs (especially for mental health) because people simply can't afford treatment. When they do seek care, the financial burden often hits hard.
Two southern states, one expensive problem…
Two southern states, one expensive problem…
Kentucky
Kentucky's bluegrass is beautiful, isn’t it? The health statistics? Less so. High rates of diabetes and heart disease mean the state spends serious money on chronic care management. Premiums don’t top the charts, but all that per-capita spending on widespread health issues adds up fast.
Montana
The Big Sky “Treasure State” comes with big healthcare costs. Delivering specialized care across Montana's massive, rural landscape means high overhead, expensive logistical hurdles, and fewer providers, perfectly reflecting how delivering medical services across vast distances isn't cheap.
South Carolina
South Carolina markets itself as a retirement paradise, but check those medical bills first. Above-average deductibles can take a toll here, and a significant chunk of the population is drowning in medical debt. The Palmetto State has beautiful beaches and charming historic towns, but seeking care often means serious financial pressure.
Think your state had it bad? Let's see how these next ones compare…
Think your state had it bad? Let's see how these next ones compare…
Alabama
Here's the problem with Alabama's healthcare: people just aren't going to the doctor. High rates of adults skip or delay treatment because they can't afford it. Yes, the average premiums look manageable on paper, but when serious illness strikes, the financial risk gets real quick.
Wyoming
Wyoming's got high mountains and even higher healthcare costs. ACA marketplace premiums here consistently rank among the most expensive in America (we're talking national leaders in price gouging). The low population spread across a massive geography means delivering care costs a fortune, and guess who pays for those logistics? It's you, cowboy.
Alaska
When your state is this remote, expensive healthcare is basically guaranteed. Alaska is usually at the top of the charts for per-capita health expenditures nationwide. Shipping medical supplies to remote villages and flying in specialists costs a fortune, and someone's gotta foot that bill.
We've come from glaciers to prairies, but the price tags stay stubbornly high...
We've come from glaciers to prairies, but the price tags stay stubbornly high...
North Dakota
Low population, high problems. North Dakota struggles with expensive individual marketplace premiums because maintaining a full provider network across all that empty space costs serious money. It's the classic rural healthcare situation where having fewer people means that the cost per person is going to be higher
Wisconsin
Luckily, the Badger State’s healthcare costs aren't driven by crazy premiums. But it's the per-capita spending that'll get you. Large, integrated hospital systems and regional monopolies mean less competition and higher prices for everyone.
Indiana
The heartland isn't immune to healthcare headaches either. Indiana's seeing rising costs, particularly for out-of-pocket expenses that leave families scrambling. Above-average rates of medical bill struggles and consistently high deductibles mean debt is accumulating fast here.
New Mexico
New Mexico's got a provider problem. They don’t have enough primary care doctors, which means people end up going to expensive emergency rooms instead. Combine that with high out-of-pocket expenses, and you've got a state where getting basic care costs way more than it should.
The land of Lincoln is also on the list…
The land of Lincoln is also on the list…
Illinois
Illinois’s cost ranking is often a tale of two states: high-cost Chicago and lower-cost rural areas. The sheer volume of spending and high cost of care in its major metro areas push the state average up significantly, meaning residents pay a high price for urban access to specialist services.
Arkansas
Arkansas has decent access to healthcare (meaning people can see doctors), but the efficiency? Not great. High deductibles combined with expensive per-service costs mean you're paying top dollar for care that should cost less.
Ohio
Ohio's healthcare market is dominated by massive hospital systems, and it shows in the spending. High per-capita health costs put the state firmly in expensive territory, reflecting the market power of large hospital networks in the Midwest.
Arizona
The land of breathtaking deserts and dramatic sunsets is also home to high mental health hurdles. The state has one of the highest rates of adults postponing or skipping mental healthcare due to cost. Throw in a terrible overall cost-effectiveness ranking, and you've got a prescription for financial strain.
