Report: Minnesota ranks No. 2 nationally for healthcare

In an exclusive interview, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained the factors behind Minnesota’s ranking.

“Minnesota ranks second overall because it consistently performs at a high level across all three dimensions we measured – cost, access and health outcomes – rather than excelling in just one area,” Lupo said. “The state ranks third for affordability, second for access to care and 11th for health outcomes, which together produce one of the highest overall scores in the country.”

New Hampshire was the only state to receive a higher ranking, stemming from a number one ranking on health outcomes and a number two ranking on cost.

The top five was rounded out by Iowa, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. The bottom five states nationally are Alaska, Mississippi, Georgia, Texas and West Virginia.

The analysis was based on 44 metrics that measure healthcare cost, access and outcomes, such as insurance affordability, provider availability, hospital quality, health coverage and health outcomes.

“On the affordability side, Minnesota has the eighth-lowest out-of-pocket medical spending, the eighth-lowest average monthly health insurance premium, and the fifth-lowest average dental visit costs,” Lupo explained. “Access is another major strength. Minnesota has the highest number of convenient care clinics per capita, one of the country’s best public hospital systems, and a low emergency room wait time of about 16 minutes on average. These strengths are reflected in patient outcomes as well, including the seventh-highest life expectancy and a very low maternal mortality rate.”

According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the average American spends nearly $15,500 annually on personal healthcare.

The report called this a “hefty burden” for many households, while also pointing out that higher spending doesn’t always mean better quality healthcare.

“Affordable, high-quality healthcare remains a necessity for Americans, a fact underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest public health crisis in more than a century,” the report said. “The quality of healthcare matters as much as the cost, and Minnesota delivers.”

This report comes as concerns are ongoing regarding fraud in Minnesota, especially in the state’s taxpayer-funded healthcare system.

This did not factor into its high rankings.

“Fraud concerns did not play any role in Minnesota's ranking,” Lupo said. “The study does not evaluate or penalize states for healthcare fraud investigations, allegations of fraud or misuse of public healthcare funds, so those issues had no impact on Minnesota's placement.”