Nashville is known as a national health care hub, but that didn't spare Tennessee from ranking in the 10 worst states for affordable and quality health care services.
The Volunteer State lagged behind 41 other states in a July 27 report by WalletHub, a personal-finance company that analyzed 44 areas of health care accessibility, cost and outcomes for the 50 states and Washington, D.C., looking at average monthly insurance premiums, physicians per capita and the amount of residents who are uninsured.
Tennessee's poor ranking was partly attributed to poor outcomes, including a 48th worst score for its high stroke and heart disease rate, according to the study. Only Arkansas, Kentucky and West Virginia ranked lower.
A March study of the health and
habits of 2 million members of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the state's largest health insurer, identified key social barriers to optimal health, including food insecurity, housing costs, financial strain and debt burden.The study, which identified health disparities and obstacles to care, separated data for BlueCross members covered through Medicaid, who tend to face more social risk factors, and commercial members covered through their jobs or directly from the insurer.
Middle Tennesseans were 1.5 times more likely to experience housing insecurity compared to statewide averages, according to the BCBS report. West Tennessee members were more than 2.5 times more likely to have debt burden, and East Tennesseans were 1.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity than other regions.
The average American spends nearly $15,500 a year on health care, according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, WalletHub found in its report "Best and Worst Healthcare in 2026," that spending more doesn't necessarily mean residents received better health care treatment.
Tennessee's top 10 worst ranking was shared by Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Alaska, according to the report's findings.
The top 10 best states for health care included New Hampshire, Minnesota, Iowa, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin, Colorado and Nebraska.
"The best healthcare in the nation isn't helpful if it bankrupts the people who try to get it and cheap healthcare isn't worth paying for if it provides subpar or ineffective treatment," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.
Free preventative health care services in Tennessee
Preventive care can keep a condition from developing or worsening, yet many Tennesseans don't seek out these services — even though many are free.
Those insured by BCBS, the state's largest health insurer, can download the mobile app BCBSTN for access to free preventative care.
Residents with a different provider can call the member services number on the back of the insurance card to direct them to plan specific information, including free preventative care services.
Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com or on X at @BethWarrenCJ.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee ranks among worst states for health care. Here's why
