The best and worst states for healthcare for older people: 1, Minnesota, 66, 70; 2, North Dakota, 65, 02; 3, Massachusetts, 62, 17; 4, California, 61, 72. Hawaii ranked first in the country for elder care thanks to strong performance in all three categories. Retirement Living mentioned the high quality of nursing homes, low rates of avoidable hospitalizations, and favorable environmental and social factors that helped make the Aloha state the gold standard for elderly care in the U.S. UU. Health care is a major concern for many retirees, and choosing the best possible state for healthcare for older people can affect not only their finances but also their access to timely, quality care.
Among the states where the Acts retirement and living communities are located, Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina stand out for quality and access to health care. Florida ranks high in senior-specific care infrastructure, largely due to its high retirement population. The state is home to renowned health care systems, such as Cleveland Clinic Florida and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, offering advanced treatment options and specialties for older people (U.S. In the US, Pennsylvania is home to institutions such as Penn Medicine and UPMC, consistently ranked among the best in geriatric and complex care). The state also offers an extensive network of rehabilitation services and home health care.
North Carolina has always been in the top 20 for quality and access to health care, and Duke University Hospital and UNC Health are leaders in specialties related to older adults (AARP Scorecard, 202). Of course, one of the benefits of Acts Retirement-Life Communities is that all 28 campuses provide on-site health care services, including assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. If you and your spouse have different health needs, you can still be together. Regardless of which of these high-performance health states for seniors you choose, you'll have access to expert care at every stage of the process.
In 2025, in every state in the United States, Vermont ranked as the healthiest state for adults over 65, followed by Colorado and Washington. On the other hand, Mississippi was the unhealthiest state for older adults in the United States, ranking last on the list. The state rankings for seniors were created using ** metrics from five different areas: health, social and economic problems, environmental factors, behavioral factors, clinical treatment, and health outcomes. On average, older adults, who will make up 21 percent of the population in 2030, dedicate three weeks a year to doctor visits and other medical appointments.
This investment of time in an expanding demographic group portends an imminent healthcare crisis and highlights the integral role that health care plays in the daily lives of older people. The South fared particularly poorly on the report card. The 12 states with “D” ratings or worse are in the American South. These results are likely to be the result of several sociodemographic and economic influences.
Obesity is more prevalent in the region, which is one of the factors driving higher concentrations of chronic diseases. Poverty is also higher in the south, which can also lead to poor health outcomes and insufficient funding of medical infrastructure. Montana may be known for its badlands, but it's an excellent land for senior health care, with the highest overall rating in the country. The state's main strength was its accessibility to health care for older citizens.
With a population of just over 1.1 million, its health care access score ranked second among all states, a figure supported by the Montana Rural Physician Incentive Program, which subsidizes and attracts medical professionals. Montana also had many Medicare hospitals per resident age 65 and older. In addition, Montana has been at the forefront of telehealth initiatives designed to help a dispersed citizenry that represents the third lowest population density in the country. The state also ranked seventh in terms of healthcare costs, thanks to moderately lower insurance premiums and annual drug costs, which are about 40 percent lower than the national average.
The remarkably low death rate from stroke contributed to his medical outcome rating, which ranked 18th among the best in the country. North Dakota ranked 17th among states in terms of medical costs for the elderly, thanks to insurance premiums 18 percent below the national average and lower drug costs than most. North Dakota nursing homes are also known for their excellent staffing rates. It also ranks 20th in terms of medical costs, thanks to the fact that annual spending on medications is 21 percent lower than the national average, and it has relatively low mortality rates from stroke and heart disease.
Minnesota, home to the world-famous Mayo Clinic and medical device providers 3M and Medtronic, has 10,000 lakes and is ranked fourth among the best places for healthcare for the elderly. Reasonable medical prices are Minnesota's strongest selling point. The state ranks second nationally in terms of healthcare costs, with annual drug prices and insurance premiums 27 percent lower than national averages. California ranked right behind Minnesota, which means the Golden State is an attractive place to live out its golden years.
With an excellent network of top-notch facilities and a comprehensive CalAIM program, positive results represent California's calling card. The state ranked sixth in this category, with mortality rates well below national averages for cancer, heart disease and falls. In fact, California was in the top 10 in each of these categories. It's also a good idea to check your health insurance prices 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.
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 to get a annual checkup. If you're about to retire or are younger, it's a good time to think about ways, beyond a 401 (k) plan and Social Security, where you can afford long-term care. Medicare Advantage plans sold by private health insurance companies already account for 40% of all Medicare coverage. Independent living is for adults over 55 who don't need complementary health services, but who are planning a day when they might need them.
Sign up for a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, or request a Medicare supplement plan during your IEP. The state of Tar Heel scored the worst for access to healthcare, given its very limited availability of hospices, Medicare providers and Medicare hospitals for older residents. In addition, Minnesota is recognized for its comforting initiatives for older people with medical conditions; the state has generous grant programs to help older people stay in their homes and provides payment and training for family caregivers. 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.
In fact, average monthly health insurance premiums were 71 percent higher than the national average. In particular, when considering Medicare plans, some of the coverage options with lower premiums have more out of pocket costs. The most common misconception people have about health care is that it's more expensive than they can afford. We chose Texas as the state that offers the best value for money because of its comparatively low prices combined with a high level of care.
Under “Nursing Homes (5 ★)”, “Assisted Living (5 ★) and “Memory Care” (5 ★), you'll see the percentage of five-star ratings in each state. Medicare will continue to pay 80% of the bills, and the overwhelming majority of members will continue to buy supplemental Medigap insurance to cover the remaining 20%.
