Since it was launched in 1965 under the administration of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, Medicare has served as a medical lifeline for people aged 65 and older , along with people who may be younger and have disabilities. According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, nearly 66 million people were enrolled in Medicare, as of March 2023.
Though Medicare is available everywhere in the U.S., some states provide better coverage in terms of quality than others. U.S. News & World Report used a Medicare quality metric to rank the states with the best Medicare coverage , and these are the top 10.
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10. North Carolina
North Carolina comes in at No.10 on the list of best Medicare coverage providers.
As of 2022, there were 1.9 million people aged 65 and older in North Carolina, which equates to roughly one in six of the state’s population. This number is expected to increase to 2.8 million by 2042, which is a 48% increase, according to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management.
The cost of living in North Carolina is 5% lower than the national average, but the cost of healthcare is 6% higher.
By 2030, South Carolina — which ranks at No. 9 here — expects to see 27% of its population made up of people aged 60 and older — up from 22.2% in 2020.
Thanks to its general affordability, laid-back pace and temperate climate, retirees are flocking to the Palmetto State. The cost of living in South Carolina is 6% lower than the national average, as is the cost of healthcare expenses in the state.
The population of retirees is growing in Tennesse. The state is appealing in part because of its temperate climate, booming outdoor recreational scene and low cost of living.
The cost of living in Tennessee, which comes in at No. 8 for best Medicare coverage, is 10% lower than the national average. Healthcare costs are 13% lower.
Wyoming comes in at No. 7 on this list, and according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, it had the fastest growing elderly (65 and older) population in the nation, rising by 3.5% between July 2022 and July 2023.
Retirees are drawn to Wyoming not only because it’s abundant in beautiful natural scenery, but also because it is generally safe and affordable. The cost of living in Wyoming is 7% lower than the national average and the cost of healthcare is on par with the national average.
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6. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the sixth best state in the U.S. for Medicare coverage, according to this methodology. The Pennsylvania State Data Center reported that between 2010 and 2017, the population of those 65 and older increase by 16.3%.
The cost of living in Pennsylvania is 4% lower than the national average and the cost of healthcare is 8% lower.
Georgia has a large number of retirees, particularly in rural areas. According to Goergia.gov, Georgians aged 65 and older make up 19% of the population in rural counties. This percentage is projected to increase to 22% by 2030.
The cost of living in Georgia, which is ranked as the fifth best state for Medicare coverage, is 10% lower than the national average, but the cost of healthcare is 1% higher.
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4. Kentucky
The Bluegrass State came in at fourth place on the list of states with the best Medicare coverage. As of 2020, around 17.2% of Kentucky residents were aged 65 or older, and this percentage is expected to increase over time.
The cost of living in Kentucky is 8% lower than the national average, and the cost of healthcare is 6% lower.
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3. Louisiana
According to America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation, the population of Louisiana residents 65 and older hovers at 17.0% of the total population.
The cost of living in Louisiana is among the lowest in the U.S. — 9% lower than the national average. The cost of healthcare here is 2% lower than the national average.
Another famously cheap state to live in, Alabama nabbed the No. 2 spot for best Medicare coverage. According to America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation, the population of Alabama residents aged 65 and older is 18%.
The cost of living in Alabama is 12% lower than the national average, while the cost of healthcare is 16% lower.
Alaska provides the best Medicare coverage of all the states, but it’s also the only state on this list where the cost of living is higher than the national average by a considerable margin — 31%. The cost of healthcare is 60% higher than the national average.
In recent years, Alaska’s elderly population (folks aged 65 and older) has been growing, despite this being such an expensive place to live out your golden years.
Please note: Cost of living data and healthcare comes from RentCafe unless otherwise stated.
Medicare care should be the same in each state there should not be any different since Medicare has to cover the health care you need regardless of the state you live in.
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