There are many factors to consider when determining which state has the best medical care for seniors. These factors include the number of senior citizens in the state, the number of hospitals and nursing homes, the number of physicians, the quality of care, and the cost of care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the five states with the highest percentages of residents 65 and older are Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Vermont. Of these states, Florida, Maine, and Pennsylvania also rank in the top 10 states for the number of physicians per 100,000 residents.
The CDC also reports that the states with the lowest percentages of residents 65 and older are Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Utah. Of these states, only Alaska ranks in the top 10 for the number of physicians per 100,000 residents.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a tool that allows users to compare the quality of health care among states. The AHRQ Quality Indicators can be used to compare the quality of care in states for a variety of conditions, including heart attack, pneumonia, and surgical care.
According to the AHRQ Quality Indicators, the five states with the highest quality of care for seniors are Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The five states with the lowest quality of care for seniors are Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.
The cost of medical care can also vary widely among states. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the five states with the highest average monthly premiums for Medicare Part B (which covers outpatient services) are Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The five states with the lowest average monthly premiums for Medicare Part B are Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, and New Mexico.
When considering all of these factors, it is difficult to say definitively which state has the best medical care for seniors. However, some states do stand out as having above-average care in multiple categories. These states include Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Vermont.