Rhode Island health care ranked second best in U.S.

Rhode Island has been ranked the second-best state in the country for health care, according to a new WalletHub study. The report looked at cost, access, and outcomes across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and the Ocean State stood out in all three areas.

Rhode Islanders spend the least on out-of-pocket medical costs, at 5.6% of their income, and enjoy some of the highest health insurance coverage rates in the country. 94% of adults and 97% of children are insured.

The state also boasts the sixth-most physicians and geriatricians per capita, making it easier for residents to get care when they need it. Preventive care is strong too, Rhode Island has one of the lowest percentages of residents who haven’t seen a doctor in two years or visited a dentist in the past year. Child vaccination rates are high, contributing to one of the nation’s lowest child mortality rates.

But while the rankings are impressive, the situation seems to be changing fast with overcrowded emergency rooms, staffing shortages, and Rhode Island’s largest hospital system, Brown University Health, making dramatic budget cuts. 

Do you agree with Rhode Island’s #2 health care ranking, or do the recent struggles paint a different picture? Let us know what you think.