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North Carolina On List Of States With Worst Health Care

Personally, I think health care in our country is a total ruckus! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve received amazing care over the last few years in regard to breast cancer…

U.S. Hospitals Expand Specialty Care Centers

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Personally, I think health care in our country is a total ruckus! Don't get me wrong, I've received amazing care over the last few years in regard to breast cancer and with my neck surgeries. However, the cost is insane! I pay close to $600 a month for health insurance just for me!! And I still have crazy bills. Recently I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand and had to pay over $2100 out of pocket. My doctor rocks but the costs are ridiculous. WalletHub's annual list of the 'Best and Worst States for Healthcare' is out, and North Carolina isn't looking good.

WalletHub compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on 44 factors related to health care cost, accessibility, and outcome. Now, going through all 44 factors is way too much to deal with but after all of the comparisons, Minnesota tops the list for the best health care. West Virginia is the state with the worst health care. The study looked at everything from average monthly insurance premiums to the cost of a dental visit to the quality of the public hospital system.

North Carolina came in at #10 on the 'Worst States' list. Sadly, most of the states on that list are here in the South. Florida, Georgia, and Alabama also made the 'worst' list. Outside of Minnesota, Iowa, Rhode Island, and North Dakota made the 'best' list.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the average American spends $12,914 a year on personal health care. That's insane! Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, me included, so that cost truly hurts most families. If you have medical issues, like I do, that cost is higher than $12,914 a year. Can you imagine all the things you could do if that cost was just cut in half?!

Even with health insurance, most of us have to pay co-pays when visiting a doctor. And if you see a specialist, that cost is higher. I pay $60 per visit to a specialist, and I have to see more than one a few times a year. Adding up the cost would make me cry, as I could take a kick-ass vacation with all that money. It's just nuts! Our open enrollment for the upcoming year starts tomorrow, and I know looking through all the plans and out of pocket costs is going to stress me out. Ugh! Nurses and doctors work tirelessly, and I have tremendous respect for them. That said, costs in our country are out of control!

If I didn't love my job so much, I'd think of moving to one of the states with the best health care. LOL! Although if summer temps continue to rise year after year, I may need to pack and hit one of the colder states. You can see the entire study here.

List: Top North Carolina Hospitals According To US News

No one wants to go to the hospital. But when you do you want the best care from exceptional physicians. But how do you determine the top North Carolina hospitals?One well-respected measurement of hospital quality of care in US News and World Report. Today they released their 2022-2023 rankings for the Top Hospitals in the nation as well as regionally in North Carolina.

Here's how they decided on this list: "In 2022-2023 U.S. News Best Hospitals ranked hospitals in the U.S. in 15 adult specialties as well as recognized hospitals by state, metro, and regional areas for their work in 20 more widely performed procedures and conditions. Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals analyzed and 30,000 physicians surveyed, only 164 hospitals ranked in at least one of the specialties."

One Charlotte area hospital came in at number 3 on this list. Several surrounding area institutions were also recognized. You can get the full national breakdown here. You can also see the rankings in specific specialties such as cancer care, cardiology, and others. I hope you and your family do not need any sort of care in the immediate future, but if you do it's good to be informed! Read on for the top North Carolina hospitals according to US News.

1. Duke University Hospital

    2. University of North Carolina Hospitals

      3. Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center (TIE)

        3. ECU Health Medical Center (TIE)

          3. First Health Moore Regional Hospital (TIE)

            3. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (TIE)

              3. UNC Rex Hospital (TIE)

                8. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

                  9. Duke Regional Hospital

                    10. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center (TIE)

                      10. WakeMed Raleigh Campus (TIE)

                        12. CarolinaEast Medical Center

                          13. Atrium Health Pineville

                            14. Atrium Health Cabarrus (TIE)

                              14. CaroMont Regional Medical Center (TIE)

                                14. Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center (TIE)

                                  17. Mission Hospital Asheville

                                    18. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center

                                      Melany Myers is a Gastonia native and has spent most of her life here in North Carolina. Mel has worked in radio for over 20 years, many of which she spent co-hosting morning shows in Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC. Mel loves 80’s music, going to concerts, cooking, and eating! She is always writing about random news stories that really make you wonder, “what in the world?!” She also writes about rock music and human-interest content.