Slideshows

America's Healthiest and Sickest States

Healthiest and Sickest US States

Health care is one of the hottest topics both in Washington and around the country, but there is no question that the level of health varies greatly from state to state.Which US states have the healthiest populations and most robust health care systems? Which states lag behind? To help answer this question, compiles data on all 50 states - employing a methodology that encompasses everything from public policy and clinical care to resident behaviors, community and the environment - to develop a
Photo: Getty Images

Health care is one of the hottest topics both in Washington and around the country, but there is no question that the level of health varies greatly from state to state.

Which US states have the healthiest populations and most robust health care systems? Which states lag behind? To help answer this question, America's Health Rankings compiles data on all 50 states - employing a methodology that encompasses everything from public policy and clinical care to resident behaviors, community and the environment - to develop a statistical ranking of how states compare to each other overall.

CNBC.com has also included the most recent numbers available from states on total health and human services spending, which is the only data included that is not provided by America's Health Rankings.

So, what are the healthiest and sickest states in America? Click ahead to find out!

By Paul Toscano
Posted 19 March 2010

5. (Healthiest) New Hampshire

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $1.88 billion (2008) Health Care Funding Per Person: $59 Medicare Enrollment: 15% Lacking Health Insurance: 10.3% Prevalence of Obesity: 24.8% Prevalence of Smoking: 17% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 11.4%
Photo: BotMultichil | Wikimedia Commons

Health Expenditures: $1.88 billion (2008)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $59

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 15%
Lacking Health Insurance: 10.3%
Prevalence of Obesity: 24.8%
Prevalence of Smoking: 17%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 11.4%

4. (Healthiest) Hawaii

Health & Human Service Expenditures: 1.02 billion* (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $220 Medicare Enrollment: 15% Lacking Health Insurance: 7.7% Prevalence of Obesity: 23.1% Prevalence of Smoking: 15.4% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 14.8%
Photo: Holger Leue | Lonely Planet Images  | Getty Images

Health Expenditures: $1.02 billion* (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $220

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 15%
Lacking Health Insurance: 7.7%
Prevalence of Obesity: 23.1%
Prevalence of Smoking: 15.4%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 14.8%

*Figures are total operating budget for Hawaii's Department of Health.

3. (Healthiest) Massachusetts

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $6.32 billion (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $118 Medicare Enrollment: 16%Lacking Health Insurance: 5.4% Prevalence of Obesity: 21.4% Prevalence of Smoking: 16% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 12.3%
Photo: Travelpix Ltd | Photographer’s Choice | Getty Images

Health Expenditures: $6.32 billion (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $118

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 16%
Lacking Health Insurance: 5.4%
Prevalence of Obesity: 21.4%
Prevalence of Smoking: 16%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 12.3%

2. (Healthiest) Utah

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $2.61 billion (2009)Health Care Funding Per Person: $60 Medicare Enrollment: 10% Lacking Health Insurance: 13% Prevalence of Obesity: 23.1% Prevalence of Smoking: 9.3% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 10.7%
Photo: Posi66 | Wikimedia Commons

Health Expenditures: $2.61 billion (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $60

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 10%
Lacking Health Insurance: 13%
Prevalence of Obesity: 23.1%
Prevalence of Smoking: 9.3%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 10.7%

1. (Healthiest) Vermont

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $1.75 billion (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $203 Medicare Enrollment: 17% Lacking Health Insurance: 10.2%Prevalence of Obesity: 23.2% Prevalence of Smoking: 16.7% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 11.5%
Photo: Skeezix1000  | wikimedia Commmons

Health Expenditures: $1.75 billion (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $203

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 17%
Lacking Health Insurance: 10.2%
Prevalence of Obesity: 23.2%
Prevalence of Smoking: 16.7%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 11.5%

5. (Sickest) South Carolina

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $5.17 billion* (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $81 Medicare Enrollment: 16%Lacking Health Insurance: 16.1% Prevalence of Obesity: 30.6% Prevalence of Smoking: 20% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 16.2%
Photo: Akhenaton06  | Wikimedia Commons

Health Expenditures: $5.17 billion* (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $81

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 16%
Lacking Health Insurance: 16.1%
Prevalence of Obesity: 30.6%
Prevalence of Smoking: 20%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 16.2%

*Figures are total operating budget for South Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services.

4. (Sickest) Louisiana

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $5.32 billion* (2010) Health Care Funding Per Person: $90 As a Percentage of Total Population: Medicare Enrollment: 15% Lacking Health Insurance: 19.3% Prevalence of Obesity: 28.9% Prevalence of Smoking: 20.4% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 18.3%
Photo: Smh2536 | wikimedia Commons

Health Expenditures: $5.32 billion* (2010)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $90

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 15%
Lacking Health Insurance: 19.3%
Prevalence of Obesity: 28.9%
Prevalence of Smoking: 20.4%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 18.3%

*Figures are total operating budget for Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals.

3. (Sickest) Alabama

Health & Human Services Expenditures: $761 million* (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $97 Medicare Enrollment: 17% Lacking Health Insurance: 11.9% Prevalence of Obesity: 32.2% Prevalence of Smoking: 22.1% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 21.2%
Photo: Lee Adlaf | Flickr

Health Expenditures: $761 million* (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $97

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 17%
Lacking Health Insurance: 11.9%
Prevalence of Obesity: 32.2%
Prevalence of Smoking: 22.1%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 21.2%

*Figures are total expenditures budgeted for Alabama's Department of Public Health.

2. (Sickest) Oklahoma

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $5.66 billion* (2006) Health Care Funding Per Person: $99 Medicare Enrollment: 16% Lacking Health Insurance: 15.9% Prevalence of Obesity: 30.9% Prevalence of Smoking: 24.7% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 18.7%
Photo: Soonerfever | Wikimedia Commons

Health Expenditures: $5.66 billion* (2006)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $99

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 16%
Lacking Health Insurance: 15.9%
Prevalence of Obesity: 30.9%
Prevalence of Smoking: 24.7%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 18.7%

*Figures are total expenditures for Oklahoma's Health & Social Services

1. (Sickest) Mississippi

Health & Human Service Expenditures: $298.63 million* (2009) Health Care Funding Per Person: $64 Medicare Enrollment: 16% Lacking Health Insurance: 18.3% Prevalence of Obesity: 33.3% Prevalence of Smoking: 22.7% Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 21.2%
Photo: Julian Pottage/Robert Harding | Robert Harding World Imagery | Getty Images

Health Expenditures: $298.63 million* (2009)
Health Care Funding Per Person: $64

As a Percentage of Total Population:
Medicare Enrollment: 16%
Lacking Health Insurance: 18.3%
Prevalence of Obesity: 33.3%
Prevalence of Smoking: 22.7%
Reporting "Poor" or "Fair" Health: 21.2%

*Figures include Mississippi's total 2009 budget appropriations for Public Health and "Hospitals and Hospital Schools"