Forbes names Texas one of worst states for accessible health care. See why
A trip to the doctor can result in some of the most costly bills for Texans, new data shows.
In a recent Forbes survey, Texas ranked among the top five worst states for health care access and costs.
To determine the worst states for healthcare, Forbes compared all 50 states across 14 key metrics.
Some of those metrics included the percentage of residents who chose not to see a doctor at some point in the past 12 months due to cost and the number of residents who lacked health insurance.
Why Texas scored poorly in Forbes ranking
Forbes ranked Utah the worst state for health care overall. Nevada placed second. Texas ranked third, followed by Arizona and Georgia.
“The Lone Star State has the highest percentage of residents lacking health insurance coverage (16.6%) and the highest percentage of people who were unable to afford a visit to the doctor (16%),” Forbes wrote in its findings.
The survey indicated that Texas also stands out as the state with the second-lowest number of community health centers and fourth-lowest number of primary care physicians per 10,000 residents.
Furthermore, the the Forbes study found that Texas has the sixth-highest average deductible for employees, with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance, at $2,282 annually.
Texas also has the 10th-lowest number of specialist physicians per 10,000 residents.
“Having the best health insurance can increase access to essential healthcare,” insurance analyst Jason Metz said. “When searching for health insurance coverage, you should consider monthly premiums, out-of-pocket costs, in-network care, preventive care, and coverage of prescription medications.”
States where healthcare is least accessible
Utah
Nevada
Texas
Arizona
Georgia
South Carolina
Indiana
Wyoming
Idaho
North Carolina
This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 1:06 PM.
