Top US State for Health Care Costs: North Carolina – Forbes Advisor
TL/DR –
A Forbes Advisor study found that North Carolina is the least affordable state for healthcare in the US. The study used nine metrics, including average insurance premiums and deductibles, the percentage of adults who did not seek medical care due to cost, and the percentage of families who struggled to pay for their child’s medical bills. The state’s residents pay the highest premiums for “plus-one” insurance coverage with an average annual cost of $4,781, while those with family coverage pay the second-highest premiums in the country at about $7,180 per year.
North Carolina Tops List of Least Affordable US States for Healthcare
A recent Forbes Advisor report unveils North Carolina as the least affordable state for healthcare in the US. The ranking derived from a score out of 100 points based on nine metrics, with NC earning the top spot with a full score.
Forbes’ Methodology for Healthcare Affordability Rankings
The Forbes study relied on nine factors:
- Average annual premiums for employer-provided single, plus one, and family health insurance coverages.
- Average annual deductibles for employer-provided family and single health insurance coverage.
- Average individual health insurance premium for a silver tier health plan.
- Percentage of adults who couldn’t see a doctor due to cost.
- Percentage of adults reporting 14+ unhealthy mental health days who couldn’t see a doctor due to cost.
- Percentage of families struggling to pay their child’s medical bills in the past 12 months.
High Health Insurance Costs in North Carolina
NC residents pay the highest premiums in the US for “plus-one” health insurance coverage through employers, averaging $4,781 annually. Family coverage through employers costs an average of $7,180 annually, with average deductibles around $4,062. Single coverage deductibles aren’t much better, averaging around $2,268 annually.
Availability of Free Health Insurance in NC
NC’s Medicaid program provides low-cost and free health coverage for low-income households, with eligibility criteria including pregnancy, responsibility for a child 18 or younger, blindness, disability, or aged 65 or older. The income threshold varies based on household size. The Benefits.gov page can help residents determine their eligibility.
Top 10 Most Expensive States for Healthcare
The Forbes Advisor list of most expensive states for healthcare includes:
- North Carolina
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Florida
- Texas
- South Carolina
- Arizona
- Georgia
- New Hampshire
- Louisiana
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News