These states spend the most on health care: See the list

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Surgeons performing a surgical procedure on a patient's hand. (Photo by: Pascal Bachelet/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Rising health care costs are placing increasing financial pressure on Americans, with out-of-pocket expenses climbing far faster than inflation over the past two decades.

According to a new WalletHub analysis, the average annual out-of-pocket health care spending for Americans has surged from $811 to $1,514 over the last 20 years. The report examined the cost of five major health care components across all 50 states and compared those figures to each state’s median household income to determine where residents spend the largest share of their earnings on medical care.

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What they're saying:

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said escalating costs are making it harder for many Americans to access necessary treatment.

"Sharp increases in health care costs in recent years have made it difficult for some people to seek essential care. Even in states with lower-than-average health care prices, residents’ incomes may not be enough to keep up with the cost, especially since virtually every part of Americans’ budgets have been impacted by inflation over the past few years," Lupo said.

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States that spend the most on health care

Dig deeper:

Alaska

Alaska residents spend the highest share of their income on health care in the nation, with medical visits and medications accounting for 10.1% of median monthly household income. The state has some of the country’s highest medical prices, including the most expensive doctor visits and ibuprofen costs.

Oregon

Oregon ranks second, with residents spending about 9.3% of their monthly income on health care. The state’s high costs are driven largely by expensive doctor and optometrist visits, despite relatively strong household incomes.

Maine

Maine residents also spend roughly 9.3% of their income on health care, ranking third nationwide. Lower household incomes combined with high costs for doctor, dentist, and optometrist visits contribute to the burden.

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Tips for saving on health care

What you can do:

• Get insured: Health insurance helps protect against massive medical bills and limits out-of-pocket costs.
• Use preventative care: Regular checkups can catch health issues early and reduce long-term expenses.
• Budget for health care: Include premiums and build an emergency fund for unexpected medical costs.
• Live a healthy lifestyle: Good nutrition and exercise can lower the need for medical care.
• Try telehealth: Virtual doctor visits can be a cheaper alternative for some medical needs.
• Use an HSA: Health savings accounts offer tax advantages for medical expenses.
• Use rewards credit cards wisely: Paying medical bills with rewards cards can earn cash back if balances are paid in full.

Methodology:

To determine which states spend the most and least on health care, WalletHub compared the costs of five key expenses across all 50 states: doctor, dentist and optometrist visits, along with the prices of ibuprofen and Lipitor.

Researchers combined those costs and measured them against each state’s median monthly household income to create the rankings.

For consistency, the analysis assumed the purchase of one unit of each health care component.