States are ranked based on quality, cost, and access to health care for adults 65 and older, based on data from the MedicareGuide data study. Our goal is to help you make informed healthcare decisions. While this post may contain links to lead generation forms, this will not influence our writing. We follow strict editorial standards to provide you with the most accurate and unbiased information.
Older Americans are increasingly seeking affordable, quality health care, and every day 10,000 baby-boomers turn 65. By 2050, 20% of the U.S. population The U.S. will be older than this age. We also consulted four experts to address key issues and provide advice on Medicare. Read on to learn about our findings and methodology.
What are the cost-saving tips for older people who need health care? While there are no unique savings tips for healthcare, there are some general principles that can minimize out-of-pocket expenses. The first rule is to turn to health care providers in your health plan's network, except in cases where there's a compelling medical reason to leave the network. Out-of-network care is more expensive and may not be covered at all, depending on the health plan's rules for situations that are not emergency. A similar recommendation is to use the drugs listed on the health plan formulary (i.e., the list of covered prescription drugs).
However, it's always worth comparing prices on a website like GoodRx to see if drugs can be purchased for a price lower than your health plan's copay. Another important measure for savvy consumers in the healthcare industry is to review every medical bill they receive, as billing errors occur more frequently. what you might suspect. What should you consider when choosing a health plan? What can you expect as you qualify for Medicare? What are the most common misconceptions about Medicare? Medical care? A common misconception about American healthcare is consistency.
The quality of health care (and the resulting health outcomes) can vary considerably from provider to provider. In addition, the fact that a hospital is recognized for a particular specialty (for example, orthopedic surgery) does not mean that the other specialties of that hospital are of the same quality. The cost varies as much as the quality of health care. Unfortunately, a higher price for a procedure (such as a knee replacement) doesn't mean it's going to be of a higher quality than the same procedure performed by a lower-cost provider. What is the future of Medicare? The biggest mistake people make when buying health plans is focusing on premium costs.
The fact is that, if the premium is low, the health plan operator collects other items to maintain their earnings. In general, the lower your premium, the higher your co-pays or the percentage of cost-sharing of other provider services, the higher your deductible will be before the company pays a cent and the smaller the provider network. If you're young and healthy, a plan with lower premiums may work for you, since you rarely need to see a doctor, maybe not even for an annual checkup. On the other hand, if you have health problems, it's quite possible that you'll get better results if you spend more to access the doctors and specialists you need to stay well.
In addition, many workers who have traditionally been laid off have signed up to COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budgetary Reconciliation Act), a national program that allows workers to keep their health plan for up to 36 months if the worker pays all the costs. 80% of the costs that many companies pay to active workers carry over to the part of those laid off under COBRA. Now, several experts believe that laid-off workers should opt for an Affordable Care Act plan. Laid-off workers are immediately eligible, and the sudden decline in their income often makes them eligible for significant cost-cutting subsidies.
The most common misconception about Medicare is that most doctors don't accept Medicare patients because of low government rates, which may represent half or a third of what they charge from private insurers or 10% of patients without safe. The most common misconception people have about health care is that it's more expensive than they can afford. About one in four people don't go to the doctor when they think they should, because they fear how much the bill will cost. Make no mistake, healthcare in the United States isn't cheap.
However, there are plenty of ways to get the care you need at affordable prices. For example, you can get a medical discount if you apply for one. Start by establishing how much the service will cost you if you continue. Then, clearly state that you cannot afford that amount right now. You may need to show the supplier some documents to explain your situation, such as pay stubs or your tax return.
Even so, if you're sincere in a face-to-face conversation with your suppliers, many have permanent policies that cut their rates by half for people in need, maybe up to 10%, or even zero. At a minimum, you should be able to agree on a more manageable monthly payment plan. You should also look to hospitals for the best rates if you're going to undergo a larger procedure, such as elective knee surgery or childbirth. Don't go near the billing department.
People there are paid to raise money. Instead, meet with the hospital's ombudsman, who is expected to defend patients. Like doctors, ombudsmen negotiate prices, especially if you receive competing written offers from one or two hospitals. Once you've agreed on the terms, get the agreement in writing so there are no misunderstandings later on.
If you have health insurance with a high deductible before your plan starts paying or significant coinsurance of 30% or more for expensive procedures, consider paying in cash. By law, you're not required to use your health insurance. Increasingly, providers accept less cash from patients in cash than they could eventually collect from the insurance company. By accepting cash, they avoid lots of insurance paperwork, payment delays, and other problems. Original Medicare will continue to provide low-cost access to approximately 90% of all doctors, 75% of all specialists, and virtually all 5000 hospitals.
Medicare will continue to pay 80% of the bills and the vast majority of members will continue to purchase supplemental Medigap insurance to cover the remaining 20%. The good news is that many congressional legislators are pushing to extend Original Medicare benefits to eye, hearing and dental care. Many also continue to advocate allowing the federal government to begin negotiating lower drug prices with manufacturers. And legislators want to lower the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 60, thereby reducing overall costs by bringing in younger, healthier older people. Health Educator, Health Care Policy Advocate, and Health Insurance Agent Coverage, costs, and choice of providers are primary considerations when choosing a health plan.
Coverage refers to what is covered or benefits, as well as the amount of coverage. Ideally, you should have 100% coverage, but realistically, that plan would probably have a high premium. For prescription drug plans, make sure that the plan covers all or most of your medications. Use the Medicare plan finder to find Part D plans that cover your drugs. The costs include the premium and cost-sharing.
Don't choose a plan with a low premium without checking coverage or cost-sharing. The choice of providers concerns both doctors and pharmacies. With Original Medicare, you can choose between doctors willing to bill Medicare; with HMO Medicare Advantage plans, you can choose within the network. With Part D plans, use network pharmacies for lower co-pays.
For even lower copays, use preferred network pharmacies instead of standard network pharmacies. If you didn't apply for Social Security benefits before your 65th birthday, you must sign up voluntarily. If you're covered by your employer's health plan, you can delay enrollment in Medicare without being fined. Enroll during your initial enrollment period (IEP), which begins three months before your month of birth and ends three months after your month of birth.
Don't stop enrolling during your IEP, unless you have your employer's health coverage. Sign up for a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, or request a Medicare supplement plan during your IEP. Get guidance from an authorized agent or SHIP advisor. Efforts to curb rising prescription drug prices may pay off as the issue becomes a national health issue.
The 2003 law that created Medicare Part D prohibited the federal government from negotiating drug prices. Drug manufacturers supported the ban and have successfully defeated proposals to lift it. Allowing the government to negotiate drug prices on behalf of 62 million Medicare beneficiaries will likely lower drug prices in the Part D market and other markets. The Medicare program will change if the age of eligibility is lowered to include more young people.
Even if people under 65 without disabilities are allowed to buy Medicare, the program is likely to change. Owner, Secure Medicare Solutions Healthcare can be one of the biggest items in an older person's budget, so saving money on it is a priority for many seniors. Some money-saving tips include using generic drugs when they're available, hiring medical providers who are part of the network if your Medicare plan has a network, and performing regular preventive checks to detect any potential medical problems early. It's also a good idea to review the price of your health insurance periodically (we recommend that you do so at least twice a year) to make sure you have the best possible plan for your medical needs and financial resources. What is the future of Medicare? Medicare expert, registered nurse and nationally recognized serial entrepreneur What are the most common misconceptions about Medicare? These are two very common myths.
We evaluated those categories using 24 relevant metrics, which are detailed below. Each metric was rated on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best healthcare for the elderly at the most affordable cost. Finally, we determined each state and district's weighted average across all metrics to calculate their overall score and used the resulting scores to rank our sample. Our mission is to provide information that helps ordinary people make better decisions about buying and maintaining their health coverage.
Our editorial team is comprised of industry professionals and experts in the ACA, private health insurance markets and government policies. Request for personal information under the CCPA If you have difficulty accessing the content of our website or need help with the functions of the site, please use one of the contact methods below. For help with Medicare plans, call 888-391-5203. For other plans, call 888-380-0672. MoneyGeek is dedicated to providing reliable information to help you make informed financial decisions. Each article is edited, verified and reviewed by industry professionals to ensure quality and accuracy.
Publicity and editorial outreach The states with the best health care in the United States are those where people are generally the healthiest, have access to health care services, and are least likely to be uninsured. The best states for health care are found across the country, from Hawaii to Rhode Island. That said, four of the top 10 states on our list are in the Northeast, while three are in the West. Within these three categories, we broke down the best and worst states based on various data points about outcomes, costs, and access to health care. Below is a summary of those findings and the best and worst states for each data point.
Deb Gordon, co-founder and CEO of Umbra Health Advocacy, has held executive roles in health insurance and healthcare technology services. She is the author of a book entitled “The Health Care Consumer's Manifesto”, based on her research as a principal investigator at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School. His work has been published in JAMA Network Open, the Harvard Business Review blog, USA Today and RealClear Politics, among others. Topping our rankings for 2025 are Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. These states outperformed others in terms of overall health system performance.
However, even these states aren't doing as well as other states in certain areas. Massachusetts, for example, ranks last in several measures of care for adults 65 and older, including avoidable hospitalizations and hospital readmissions. In light of these challenges, 70% of respondents said they would consider consulting telehealth specialists, suggesting a growing preference for accessible and less disruptive healthcare options. By establishing national affordability standards, insurance subsidies, and rules that prohibit insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing illnesses, the ACA equalized the playing field for Americans and narrowed wide differences in state coverage and access to care.
The states with the best health care in the United States are those where people are generally healthier, have access to health care services, and are least likely to be uninsured. In addition, Medicare covers 80% of most Part B services and you are responsible for the remaining 20%. To explore and rank health care quality by state, MoneyGeek looked at three main categories: health outcomes, cost, and access to care using healthcare data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and HealthData. The 50 metrics selected for this report encompass the performance of the health care system and represent important dimensions and measurable aspects of the provision of care and the health of the population.
The reports identify opportunities for improvement that can help people in all states access health care and lead healthier lives. To improve Medicaid, legislators could lower enrollment barriers for people who qualify and fill the Medicaid coverage gap, which affects low-income people who don't qualify for either their state's Medicaid program or subsidized market coverage. To evaluate healthcare in the United States, MoneyGeek analyzed three categories of data that, together, create a comprehensive view of the overall quality of healthcare in each location. The MOOP (maximum amount of out-of-pocket expenses) is the limit on how patients spend covered services obtained within the network (some plans have a separate and more expensive MOOP for out-of-network care).
Federal legislators could disassociate compensation from healthcare providers from the volume of services they provide and instead link payment to the quality of care they provide to patients.
