Rising health care costs continue to be an alarming issue for many Americans, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic persists and economic recovery takes its time. A recent paper from Rand Corp. claimed that as health care costs climb, employers respond by reducing wages and benefits, culminating in a double whammy for workers. Workers' comp insurers also may pass increasing medical and prescription costs on to insureds with higher premiums. However, as a new WalletHub study illustrates, the state of health care varies from state to state. In order to determine the best and worst states for health care, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across dimensions of cost, access and outcomes. Using 44 metrics, including average monthly insurance premiums and life expectancies, they graded each metric on a 100-point scale and determined each state and the District's weighted averages to calculate the overall scores. "Americans have to take responsibility for our health to control health-related expenditures, particularly health that is in each individual's control," remarked Diane Howard of Rush University. "These are things everyone knows — eat correctly, exercise, limit stress, get regular check-ups, and know your health care numbers (cholesterol, blood pressure, weight). "All of this is easier said than done," she admitted, "with the enormous stress people are under during the COVID-19 pandemic." See our slideshow of WalletHub's five best and five worst states for health care this year, and click here for the full study. Related: |

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