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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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"