The Worst States for Access to Medical Care in 2024 Ranked

Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM

Reviewed by Mike Bohl

Written by Lauren Ward

Updated 09/04/2024

Equity in American healthcare is a work in progress. There are still some areas where it’s much easier and more convenient to access medical professionals and pharmacies. Improved access to care typically leads to better health outcomes, as well as an increased likelihood of people actually receiving preventative care and screenings.

Which states are falling short when it comes to accessible healthcare? We looked at four data sets to rank all 50 states from worst to best. 

Access to medical specialists: Patients treated by specialists are shown to have better health outcomes compared to those solely treated by general practitioners.

  • New Mexico ranks as the worst state for healthcare access, particularly when it comes to specialists and pharmacists. But it’s not all bad news. Albuquerque has one of the highest telehealth participation rates in the country, according to a 2024 Hers study. (Albuquerque residents are the most likely of any metropolitan area in the U.S. to identify as “youthful.”) 

  • New England and surrounding regions dominate the list of states with the best access to healthcare, with states like Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania on top. 

  • States with smaller population densities showed up on our list of worst states for healthcare access, including Alaska, Montana, and New Mexico.

  • The three worst states for access to healthcare (Colorado, Alaska, and Texas) also had some of the lowest concentrations of physician specialists. 

10 Best States for Healthcare Access

  1. Vermont

  2. Rhode Island

  3. Hawaii

  4. Connecticut

  5. Massachusetts

  6. Pennsylvania

  7. Minnesota

  8. Ohio

  9. Virginia, Utah (tied)

10 Worst States for Healthcare Access

1. New Mexico
2. Missouri
3. Mississippi
4. Montana
5. North Carolina, Oklahoma, Nevada (tied)
8. Texas
9. Alaska
10. Colorado

Here are the best and worst states in each of the four categories we analyzed: primary care shortages, percentage of population without health insurance coverage, the number of pharmacies per 100,000 residents, and access to specialist care.

Which States Have the Lowest Met Need for Access to Primary Care Professionals?

Many states have a shortage of primary care physicians, which impacts how quickly people are able to get medical attention or schedule preventative screenings. We looked at the percentage of need met in terms of primary care physicians for each state.

Least Amount of Primary Care Need Met

  • Delaware

  • Alaska 

  • Missouri

Greatest Amount of Primary Care Need Met

  • Vermont

  • New Hampshire

  • Rhode Island

Which States Have the Least Amount of Health Insurance Coverage?

There is a major gap when it comes to health insurance coverage across the United States, which can hinder people from seeking medical care when they need it. 

States With the Lowest Percentage of Health Insurance Coverage

  • Texas

  • Oklahoma

  • Georgia

States With the Highest Percentage of Health Insurance Coverage

  • Massachusetts

  • Hawaii

  • Vermont

Which States Have the Lowest Concentration of Pharmacies?

Not only are people more likely to stay on top of medication when a pharmacy is nearby, they also use pharmacists as healthcare resources. One study found that patients visit community pharmacies twice as often as other providers, demonstrating the importance of access. 

States with the Lowest Number of Pharmacies Per 100,000 Residents

  • Montana

  • New Hampshire

  • Illinois

States with the Highest Number of Pharmacies Per 100,000 Residents

  • South Dakota

  • Arizona

  • Georgia

Which States Have the Fewest Medical Specialists?

We looked at the number of physician specialists per 100,000 residents in multiple disciplines, including psychiatry, surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, and other specializations. 

States with the Fewest Medical Specialists Per 100,000 Residents 

  • New Mexico

  • Missouri

  • South Dakota

States with the Most Medical Specialists Per 100,000 Residents 

  • Pennsylvania

  • Florida

  • Wyoming

These rankings also mirror access to other types of specialists. Missouri has one of the lowest concentrations of OB-GYNs in the country, while Florida has one of the highest. Similarly, Florida has one of the highest concentrations of dermatologists in the country.

Based on the criteria outlined, plus the methodology explained below, here are all 50 states ranked from worst to best in terms of healthcare access across the U.S. 

1. New Mexico

2. Missouri

3. Mississippi

4. Montana

5. Nevada, North Carolina, and Oklahoma (tied)

8. Texas

9. Alaska

10. Colorado

11. Illinois

12. North Dakota

13. South Carolina

14. South Dakota

15. Idaho and Washington (tied)

17. Georgia

18. California

19. New Jersey

20. Wyoming and Oregon (tied)

22. Florida, Indiana, and Maryland (tied)

25. Michigan

26. Arizona and Delaware (tied)

28. New Hampshire and New York (tied)

30. Kentucky

31. Iowa, Tennessee, and Wisconsin (tied)

34. Kansas

35. Arkansas and Maine (tied)

37. Louisiana

38. Alabama and Nebraska (tied)

40. West Virginia

41. Utah and Virginia (tied)

43. Ohio

44. Minnesota

45. Pennsylvania

46. Massachusetts

47. Connecticut

48. Hawaii

49. Rhode Island

50. Vermont 

Note: Based on data collected in August 2024. Get the data.

We based our rankings on four data categories related to health access.

All categories were weighed equally. Each state was ranked individually in each category, then the average rank was used to determine final placement on the list. 

Your health doesn’t have to take a backseat just because you live in an area with less access to medical care. Here are some strategies to make the most of health services no matter where you live to support healthy living

  • Access telehealth services: Utilizing telehealth can significantly increase access to certain types of care. Many telehealth companies also provide affordable services for those who don’t have insurance, providing people more options for affordable care no matter where you live.

  • Be proactive with preventative care: Instead of waiting to visit a provider when you’re sick, plan ahead no matter your age or current level of health. Scheduling regular screenings and checkups can lead to earlier detection and treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and osteoarthritis.

  • Use a mail prescription service: Mail-order pharmacies make it easier and more convenient to manage prescriptions, especially if you don’t have a pharmacy nearby. You may even save on copays, especially if you’re managing a chronic condition with ongoing medication. 

Ready to feel better about your health and wellness needs? Get the care you deserve through Hers, which offers access to telehealth and prescription medication personalized to your unique needs.

Get started with an online consultation today.


13 Sources

  1. National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. State of the Primary Care Workforce. (November 2023). https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/state-of-primary-care-workforce-2023.pdf
  2. Institute of Medicine. Care Without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late. (2002). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220636/
  3. Weaver, Marcia R., et al. Health Affairs. Health Care Spending Effectiveness. (July 2022). https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01515
  4. Ding, Alexander, et al. Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy. The role of integrated medical and prescription drug plans in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in medication adherence. (March 2022). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10372970/#:~:text=This%20lack%20of%20access%20to,medication%20nonadherence%20among%20minority%20individuals.&text=Lack%20of%20retail%20pharmacy%20access,scarce%20or%20difficult%20to%20obtain.&text=Pharmacy%20deserts%20disproportionately%20exist%20in,documented%20impacts%20on%20medication%20adherence
  5. Qato, Dima, et al. JAMA Network Open. Association Between Pharmacy Closures and Adherence to Cardiovascular Medications Among Older US Adults. (April 2019). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6481442/#:~:text=years%20or%20older?-,Findings,in%20neighborhoods%20with%20fewer%20pharmacies
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. (n.d.). https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/occGeo/One%20occupation%20for%20multiple%20geographical%20areas
  7. National Bureau of Economic Research. Do Specialists Improve Outcomes for Hospitalized Patients? (October 2020). https://www.nber.org/bh-20203/do-specialists-improve-outcomes-hospitalized-patients
  8. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Designated Health Professional Shortage Statistics. (June 2024). https://data.hrsa.gov/Default/GenerateHPSAQuarterlyReport
  9. Carter, Caitlin. U.S. Census Bureau. Uninsured Rates Decreased in Over Half of U.S. States in 2022. (September 2023). https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/health-insurance-coverage.html
  10. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. National Health Expenditure Fact Sheet. (2022). https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/nhe-fact-sheet#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20per%20capita%20personal,was%20about%2026%20percent%20lower.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. County Business Patterns. (2022). https://data.census.gov/table?g=010XX00US,$0400000&n=44611
  12. KFF’s State Health Facts. Data Source: Redi-Data Inc., May 2024. https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/physicians-by-specialty-area/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
  13. Levine, Susan, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Care Industry Insights: Why the Use of Preventive Services Is Still Low. (March 2019).

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Mike Bohl

Dr. Mike Bohl is a licensed physician and the Director of Medical Content & Authority at Hims & Hers. Prior to joining Hims & Hers, Dr. Bohl worked in digital health at Ro, focusing on patient education, and as the Director of Scientific & Medical Content at a stealth biotech startup, working on pharmaceutical drug development. He has also worked in medical journalism for The Dr. Oz Show (receiving recognition for contributions from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences when the show won Outstanding Informative Talk Show at the 2016–2017 Daytime Emmy® Awards) and at Sharecare, and he is a Medical Expert Board Member at Eat This, Not That!.

Dr. Bohl obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Brown University, his Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership from Cornell University, his Master of Public Health from Columbia University, and his Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies—Journalism from Harvard University. Dr. Bohl trained in internal medicine with a focus on community health at NYU Langone Health.

Dr. Bohl is Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners, Medical Writer Certified by the American Medical Writers Association, a certified Editor in the Life Sciences by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist by the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. He has graduate certificates in Digital Storytelling and Marketing Management & Digital Strategy from Harvard Extension School and certificates in Business Law and Corporate Governance from Cornell Law School.

In addition to his written work, Dr. Bohl has experience creating medical segments for radio and producing patient education videos. He has also spent time conducting orthopaedic and biomaterial research at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland and practicing clinically as a general practitioner on international medical aid projects with Medical Ministry International.

Dr. Bohl lives in Manhattan and enjoys biking, resistance training, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, tennis, and traveling. You can find Dr. Bohl on LinkedIn for more information.

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