Mapped: Life Expectancy by U.S. State

Mapped: The Most Expensive States for Healthcare in 2026

Healthcare prices vary substantially across the U.S., with the gap between the highest- and lowest-cost states approaching 47 index points.

This map ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia by their healthcare cost index in 2026, with the national average set at 100.

The data for this visualization comes from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), using data from the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

The healthcare component is based on listed prices for doctor, dentist, and optometrist visits, along with commonly used drugs.

Massachusetts and Alaska Lead the Ranking

Massachusetts has the highest healthcare index at 131.8, meaning costs are nearly 32% above the national benchmark.

Massachusetts is home to a dense network of major hospitals, universities, and research institutions. High wages and operating costs can also contribute to higher healthcare prices.

Alaska follows closely at 130.7. Its geography creates a very different cost structure, with remote communities often facing limited provider competition and higher transportation and staffing expenses.

Delivering medical services across large distances can make routine care more expensive.

High Costs Cluster in the Northeast and West

The top of the ranking has a clear regional tilt, with eight of the 10 highest-cost states located in the Northeast or West.

New Jersey has an index of 115.8 and Maine stands at 114.7, while Connecticut and New York both come in at 108.9. High labor, real estate, and operating costs can contribute to higher prices across the region.

Western states also feature prominently. Oregon ranks fifth nationally at 115.3, followed by Hawaii at 113.1, California at 111.1, and Washington at 110.3.

The South Has Some of the Lowest Healthcare Costs

At the opposite end of the ranking, Mississippi has the lowest healthcare index at 85.1.

Alabama follows at 85.6, while Arkansas stands at 85.8. Tennessee, at 88.7, and West Virginia, at 89.5, also rank among the least expensive.

Overall, the gap between Massachusetts and Mississippi is 46.7 index points, underscoring the wide variation in routine healthcare prices across the country.

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Mapped: Health Care Spending Per Person by State

Health care represents a major share of consumer spending in America, but the amount spent per resident varies considerably by location.

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis highlights the differences in per-capita health care spending across the country in 2024.

The map below ranks every state using the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures by State data from the BEA. Figures are reported in current dollars and allocated according to residents’ state of residence.

Which States Spend the Most on Health Care?

Below is a ranking of states based on per-person health care spending:

Alaska spent nearly twice as much per resident on health care as Utah in 2024.

Several Northeastern states, along with South Dakota and Washington, D.C., also ranked near the top. Meanwhile, much of the Mountain West and South recorded below-average spending.

Why Do Some States Spend More Than Others?

Higher spending does not necessarily mean residents receive more medical care.

Numerous studies have found that differences in prices, especially for hospital and physician services, explain much more of the variation in U.S. health spending than differences in how often people use care. Administrative costs, provider wages, and regional labor markets also play major roles.

State-specific factors matter as well. Alaska’s remote geography and limited provider network make delivering care significantly more expensive, while states with older populations often spend more because seniors tend to use more medical services.

Broader insurance coverage can also increase the share of care captured in personal consumption expenditures.

Health Care Spending Continues to Climb

Nationally, health care expenditures continue to rise.

CMS projects U.S. health spending will approach $9 trillion annually by 2034, driven by increased enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid, along with continued growth in health care prices. Despite already spending more per person than any comparable high-income country, the U.S. is expected to devote an even larger share of its economy to health care over the next decade.

International comparisons show the U.S. spends substantially more on health care than other high-income countries, largely because medical services cost more rather than because Americans use dramatically more care.

As national spending continues to rise, the nearly twofold gap between states highlights how geography remains a major factor in what Americans ultimately spend on health care.

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