Health Care Costs by State 2026

Health care spending represents a significant share of the U.S. economy, but the cost of care varies widely by state. Differences in prices, service use, population age, and health system structure largely determine how much residents spend on health care—and how affordable that care is in practice. The data above shows these state-by-state differences across multiple categories of health care spending and access.

States with the Lowest and Highest Health Care Spending

The health care spending data shown here reflects per-capita spending on all privately and publicly funded personal health care services and products, including hospital care, physician services, nursing home care, and prescription drugs.

Based on the most recent state-level data, Utah has the lowest health care spending per capita at approximately $7,522. Utah’s relatively young population and lower overall use of health care services help keep average costs down compared with most other states.

At the other end of the spectrum, the District of Columbia has the highest per-capita health care spending, at about $14,381. Health care costs in D.C. are influenced by high service prices, a concentration of specialized providers, and a generally high cost of living. While insurance may cover a portion of these expenses, high underlying prices can still translate into significant financial strain for patients and their families.

Key Factors Driving Rising Health Care Costs

Health care service prices have generally risen faster than the cost of most other goods and services in the U.S., often outpacing overall inflation.

A few broad factors help explain why:

• In many areas, hospital systems and specialist services face limited competition, which can drive up the price of common procedures and visits.
• New technologies, advanced treatments, and prescription drugs have improved outcomes, but they also make care more expensive on a per-patient basis.
• As people live longer, they tend to need more frequent and ongoing medical care, especially for chronic conditions.