To determine the best and worst states for older adults’ health care, Medicare Guide compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across the key categories of cost, access and quality, evaluating them with 24 relevant metrics. Researchers graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best health care for older Americans at the most affordable price.
Health care can vary dramatically from state to state. For older Americans, where they live matters when seeking affordable, high-quality health care, according to a new study by MedicareGuide.com.
They then determined each state’s and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank the sample. The following are the states in rank order from the lowest to the highest:
1. Oklahoma
Total score: 34.74
Cost: 16.52
Quality: 5.88
Access: 12.34
2. Georgia
Total score: 35.36
Cost: 14.80
Quality: 10.55
Access: 10.01
3. District of Columbia
Total score: 38.04
Cost: 8.50
Quality: 10.83
Access: 18.71
4. Mississippi
Total score: 38.09
Cost: 18.40
Quality: 4.39
Access: 15.31
5. Louisiana
Total score: 38.75
Cost: 16.68
Quality: 7.84
Access: 14.23
6. West Virginia
Total score: 38.81
Cost: 9.65
Quality: 6.53
Access: 22.63
7. North Carolina
Total score: 39.20
Cost: 15.94
Quality: 11.95
Access: 11.31
8. Alabama
Total score: 39.30
Cost: 14.72
Quality: 7.19
Access: 17.39
9. Tennessee
Total score: 39.70
Cost: 15.94
Quality: 7.28
Access: 16.48
10. South Carolina
Total score: 41.13
Cost: 21.42
Quality: 9.33
Access: 10.38
11. Delaware
Total score: 42.50
Cost: 8.91
Quality: 17.55
Access: 16.04
12. Kentucky
Total score: 42.75
Cost: 17.33
Quality: 9.24
Access: 16.18