Study ranks Delaware among states with most expensive healthcare costs

Delaware has been ranked among the top 10 most expensive states for healthcare in a recent nationwide study. The First State's position in the study highlights ongoing concerns about the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in the state.

The analysis, conducted by Overnight Glasses, evaluated all 50 states across a range of cost metrics including health insurance premiums, per capita healthcare spending, and costs of common medical procedures such as MRIs, CT scans, and emergency room visits. It also considered expenses associated with routine health maintenance, such as vision and dental exams.

Delaware's score of 51.94 out of 100 placed it in the top ten. According to the study, the state's per-person healthcare spending of $12,899 and emergency room costs of around $1,746 were key factors in its ranking.

The study's list of the top ten most expensive states for healthcare are:

Alaska - Score: 82.97

New York - Score: 74.43

New Jersey - Score: 64.57

Vermont - Score: 58.77

California - Score: 56.99

Massachusetts - Score: 55.55

Connecticut - Score: 55.02

West Virginia - Score: 54.85

Washington - Score: 54.06

Delaware - Score: 51.94

The state's ranking in this study comes against a backdrop of existing healthcare challenges in the state. Local experts continue to voice concerns about the difficulties residents face in accessing medical care. Long wait times for appointments with primary care doctors, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals are reportedly common, particularly in Kent and Sussex counties.

The state's healthcare system is further strained by a critical shortage of healthcare workers, a situation that professionals predict will worsen in the coming years. This shortage is partly attributed to the growth in Delaware's senior population, which is expected to increase demand for medical services.

You can contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.