10 Cheapest States for HealthCare and 10 Most Expensive States for HC

[kkbmustang]

I found these articles and thought I'd pass them along. They report the cheapest and most expensive states for healthcare (based on total Medicare premiums for 20 year period age 65 to 84).

I listed the states for you. You'll have to read the actual articles for dollar amounts (links below each list).

Cheapest States for Healthcare
1. Hawaii
2. Vermont
3. Maine
4. New Mexico
5. Idaho
6. Oregon
7. South Dakota
8. Iowa
9. Montana
10. North Dakota

http://www.benefitspro.com/2015/08/06/10-cheapest-states-for-health-care?ref=mostpopular

Most Expensive States for Healthcare
1. Florida
2. Michigan
3. Maryland
4. Massachusetts
5. Nevada
6. Louisiana
7. New Jersey
8. Illinois
9. Texas
10. Indiana

http://www.benefitspro.com/2015/08/04/10-most-expensive-states-for-health-care?ref=mostpopular

[AZDude]

Pretty sure if you looked up the "states with the most/least obese populations", it would look very similar. Take care of yourself and most likely(not always), healthcare wont be an issue.

[EricP]

Pretty sure if you looked up the "states with the most/least obese populations", it would look very similar. Take care of yourself and most likely(not always), healthcare wont be an issue.

Lowest Obesity:
1. Montana
2. Colorado
3. Nevada
4. Minnesota
5. Massachusetts
6. Connecticut
7. New Mexico
8. California
9. Hawaii
10. New York

Only 2/10 States appear on both lists.  Additionally, Nevada appears on lowest obesity and Most Expensive Healthcare

Most Obese States
1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Delaware
4. Louisiana
5. Arkansas
6. South Carolina
7. Tennessee
8. Ohio
9. Kentucky
10. Oklahoma

Only 1/10 states match.

So, there's something else going on here.
 

[beltim]

Pretty sure if you looked up the "states with the most/least obese populations", it would look very similar. Take care of yourself and most likely(not always), healthcare wont be an issue.

Not even close:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_States

3 of the 10 cheapest health care states are in the 10 lowest-obesity states.  Similarly, for the most expensive populations, only 2 of the 10 most expensive health care states are in the top 10 for percentage of obesity.  In fact, just as many of the 10 most expensive health care states are in the 10-lowest obesity states.

A majority of health care spending has nothing to do with lifestyle choices.

[bogart]

Pretty sure if you looked up the "states with the most/least obese populations", it would look very similar.

You'd be wrong.  The 10 states with the least expensive healthcare (based on the link posted) have an adult obesity rate of 27.7%, and an average ranking (from 1-51 including the District of Columbia) of 31, ranging from the 12th most obese population (Iowa) to the 50th (Hawaii).  The 10 with the most expensive have an adult obesity rate of 28.7% -- that is, a bit more obesity -- and an average ranking of 26, ranging from the 6th most obese population (Louisiana) to the 48th (Massachusetts).  Those data from http://stateofobesity.org/adult-obesity/ .

What does jump out, though is the racial composition of those states that are least and most expensive -- the least expensive are 1% black on average, the most, 16%.  The U.S. population as a whole is 13%.  Those data from http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0019.pdf .

In the U.S. the better strategy isn't taking care of yourself -- it's being caucasian.

[sstants]

A significant percentage of healthcare expenditures in the USA is end-of-life care. Also, in states where expensive healthcare options are available, they are typically used. Many of the states on the most expensive list have some of the best hospital networks in the US.

A high premium can mean that you have great options available to you...it is not always a bad thing!

[Welshrabbit]

A significant percentage of healthcare expenditures in the USA is end-of-life care. Also, in states where expensive healthcare options are available, they are typically used. Many of the states on the most expensive list have some of the best hospital networks in the US.

A high premium can mean that you have great options available to you...it is not always a bad thing!

Welp...that explains why FL is #1!