New study ranks states with the most affordable healthcare. Washington places in top five

Karlee Van De Venter
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With the growing cost of services in the United States, most Americans are noting the increase in the cost of living. Few things are exempt from inflation and rising prices across the country.

This includes necessities like food, housing and healthcare. According to a recent KFF health tracking poll, the top two financial worries for Americans this year are unexpected medical bills and the cost of healthcare services.

Across the country, nearly two in five adults between the ages of 19 and 64 reported they delayed or skipped healthcare services in 2022 or 2023 because they couldn’t afford it, according to a survey from the Commonwealth Fund. This includes delaying visits to doctors, putting off medical procedures and waiting to refill prescription drugs.

Experts with Forbes Advisor conducted a subsequent study on which states have the most affordable healthcare, with Washington in the top three.

States with the most affordable healthcare

According to the Forbes Advisor study, Washington state has the third most affordable healthcare out of all 50 states plus D.C.

The Evergreen State was beat out by only Michigan at No. 2 and Hawai’i at No. 1.

The state with the least affordable healthcare is North Carolina. Overall, southern states make up the majority of the 10 states where healthcare is the least affordable.

Methodology for healthcare affordability study

States received a score out of 100, 0 being the most affordable and 100 being the least affordable. North Carolina received a 100, and Hawai’i received a perfect 0. Washington came out at 11.51 out of 100, less than six points behind number two, Michigan.

The scores were calculated by examining nine key metrics:

  • Average annual premium for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance

  • Average annual premium for employees with plus-one coverage through employer-provided health insurance

  • Average annual premium for employees with family coverage through employer-provided health insurance

  • Average annual deductible for employees with family coverage through employer-provided health insurance

  • Average annual deductible for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance

  • Average individual health insurance premium for a silver tier health plan

  • Percentage of adults who chose not to see a doctor at some point in the past 12 months due to cost

  • Percentage of adults reporting 14 or more mentally unhealthy days a month who could not see a doctor at some point in the past 12 months due to cost

  • Percentage of children whose families struggled to pay for their child’s medical bills in the past 12 months

Washington ranked well in several of these metrics. The Evergreen State has:

  • The second lowest average premium for residents with family health insurance coverage through an employer, at $5,320 annually

  • The fourth lowest percentage of children whose families struggled to pay for their child’s medical bills in the past 12 months at 5.9%

  • The fourth lowest average premium for residents with plus-one health insurance coverage through an employer

  • The fifth lowest average premium for residents with single health insurance coverage through an employer, at $1,240.33 annually

  • The ninth for the lowest health insurance premium for those with silver plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplace at $389 annually

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