Good News for Mainers: State Ranks Among America’s Best for Healthcare

Maine has plenty going for it, from its stunning scenery, wonderful people, to its incredible food.

But here's something you might not expect: it's also one of the best places in the country if you're recovering from an illness or injury. And there's data to prove it.

WalletHub.com, a personal finance website, recently published a report listing the best and worst states for healthcare. The Pine Tree State found itself right in the heart of the Top-10.

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How Strong of a State is Maine for Healtchare?

Overall, Maine was ranked 7th for healthcare, a highly respectable position for the state. It also joined three other New England states in the Top 10, showing the region’s domination in the Healthcare spectrum.

Maine finished with a score of 61.55 out of a possible 100 points. The scoring was based on three major categories: Cost, Access, and Outcomes. These categories were further broken down into 44 subcategories to enhance detail and accuracy. You can read more about the methodology here.

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Maine had decent scores in both cost (23rd ranking) and outcomes (19th). However, access is where Maine truly shined. The state finished 3rd in this category. Access includes factors like the quality of hospitals, patient beds per capita, physicians per capita, and the Medicare/Medicaid acceptance rate among physicians. Essentially, Maine is the place to be if something in your body needs mending.

Frankly, this is a great relief to hear. Whether it’s for something routine or another global pandemic, it’s reassuring to know that Maine’s healthcare team is ready to take on the challenge.

However, the future is a little uncertain, especially with access. There have been gowning concerns about the health of hospitals in Maine, especially in the rural parts of the state. Let's hope these facilities can remain healthy to ensure the population gets the care it deserves.

What is the Best New England State for Heathcare?

As mentioned above, it was a strong showing for New England. New Hampshire led the entire country, with Rhode Island coming in With a 4th place ranking. Massachusetts was 6th, Connecticut in 15th, and Vermont 16th. That's quite a statement made by the region.

READ MORE: Maine’s Acadia National Park Ranks 7th in the Nation with Over 4 Million Visits

Coming in dead last was the state of Alaska. It seems like that state is always near or at the bottom of these reports.

You can see the entire rankings here.