North Carolina has most expensive health care in the country, report says: What to know

It's no secret that Americans are increasingly uneasy about the rising cost of staying healthy, and a recent report from Forbes Advisor showed that North Carolina is the least affordable state in the country for health care.

In the study, each state received a number score based on nine metrics, with 100 representing the highest costs. N.C. received 100 out of 100 points. The next highest state was South Dakota, with 93.41 out of 100 points.

N.C. earned its place at the top of the list for a few key factors. In particular, the Forbes report showed that health insurance coverage provided to N.C. workers resulted in some of the highest premiums and deductibles in the nation.

The nine factors used in the Forbes study included the following:

1. Average annual premium for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance.
2. Average annual premium for employees with plus one coverage through employer-provided health insurance.
3. Average annual premium for employees with family coverage through employer-provided health insurance.
4. Average annual deductible for employees with family coverage through employer-provided health insurance.
5. Average annual deductible for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance.
6. Average individual health insurance premium for a silver tier health plan.
7. Percentage of adults who chose not to see a doctor at some point in the past 12 months due to cost.
8. Percentage of adults reporting 14 or more mentally unhealthy days a month who could not see a doctor at some point in the past 12 months due to cost.
9. Percentage of children whose families struggled to pay for their child’s medical bills in the past 12 months.

NC health insurance costs

Residents of the state paid highest premiums in the country for residents with "plus-one" health insurance coverage through employers, spending an average of $4,781 annually. Workers with family health insurance coverage through employers pay the second highest average premiums in the country at roughly $7,180 annually, with deductibles in the same category averaging roughly $4,062.

Deductibles for residents with single health insurance coverage through employers weren't much better — N.C. ranked 11th highest, averaging around $2,268 annually.

Does NC have free health insurance?

N.C. Medicaid provides low-cost and free health care to low income households. In order to be eligible, residents must be one or more of the following:

• Pregnant
• Responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger
• Blind
• Disabled or living with a disabled family member
• 65 years of age or older

The income threshold for N.C. Medicaid qualification varies based on how many people belong to the household. A household of two people can make no more than $27,186 before taxes in order to qualify for assistance, for example. The dedicated Benefits.gov page includes a calculator to help determine which households may qualify.

Most expensive states for health care

The full Forbes Advisor list of most expensive states for health care included:

1. North Carolina
2. South Dakota
3. Nebraska
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. South Carolina
7. Arizona
8. Georgia
9. New Hampshire
10. Louisiana

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.