On average a West Virginia household, earning an annual income of $75,575, can expect to be spending $6,249.65 yearly on healthcare. This represents the U.S.’s highest cost within its already less-than-efficient market based system.
“With West Virginia ranking among the highest in the nation for poor physical and mental health, it’s no surprise that healthcare costs here are the highest,” a spokesperson from ProfitDuel has told Digital Journal.
More than a quarter of adults in West Virginia rate their health as fair or poor, and the state leads the nation in physical and mental health challenges,” ProfitDuel add, citing data from the West Virginia Department of Health. “High rates of chronic illness and low physical activity drive up healthcare costs, and despite efforts to improve public health, demand for care continues to exceed available resources.”
To establish which state spends the most on health care, ProfitDuel analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau data – revealing that West Virginia spends the highest percentage of its income on health care. The state’s average annual household income was $75,575, with $6,249.65 spent on health care each year, accounting for 8.27% of the total income.
Montana ranked as the state with the second-highest percentage of income spent on health care. With an average household income of $90,142 and an annual health care expenditure of $6,992.40, Montana residents spend 7.76% of their income on health care.
“With Montana residents spending 7.76% of their income on healthcare, the financial strain is clear,” ProfitDuel’s statement continues. “Limited healthcare access, high insurance costs, and an aging population contribute to rising expenses, making affordability a growing concern.”
Spending the most
The following five states are spending the highest percentage of their income on health care:
- West Virginia – 8.27%
- Montana – 7.76%
- Iowa – 7.75%
- Arkansas – 7.69%
- Maine – 7.69%
Spending the least
On the other end of the scale, the following states ranked the best overall, spending the lowest percentage of income on health care:
- Hawaii – 6.26%
- New York – 6.30%
- California – 6.39%
- New Jersey – 6.47%
- Connecticut – 6.48%
ProfitDuel highlighted Hawaii’s top ranking, attributing its lower healthcare spending to several key factors.
“Hawaii stands out due to its high rate of insured residents, widespread access to healthcare, and some of the lowest obesity rates in the nation,” the spokesperson adds. “A favorable lifestyle, combined with strong state healthcare initiatives, helps keep costs manageable, making it the most affordable state for healthcare relative to income.”
