10 best and worst states for healthcare coverage

Healthcare is notoriously expensive in the United States, even with insurance. For those without coverage, it can seem nearly impossible to access care. 

According to the Census Bureau, nearly 92% of the U.S. population has some form of health insurance, whether via their employers, the Affordable Care Act marketplace or Medicaid. However, that still leaves over 8% of Americans, or 27 million, without insurance, and access to affordable health plans can ultimately depend on which state a person lives in.

Vivian Health, a job search platform for healthcare workers, ranked states by how far they landed above and below the national average rate of coverage. In Massachusetts, for example, 97.5% of the state residents have insurance, which is 6% higher than the U.S. average. In Texas, only 82% of the population is covered.

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"According to our research, the driving factor behind those who are insured fell in line with the states that had accepted government initiatives for insurance aid such as the Medicaid expansion," says Bill Kong, chief marketing officer at Vivian Health. "This means that it is more affordable for all."

Medicaid was intended for low-income Americans who were disabled, elderly or caring for minors — Medicaid expansion meant other low-income adults could have a chance at coverage. States like Texas, Wyoming, Georgia and Florida, where state legislators refused to expand Medicaid eligibility, were bound to rank at the bottom. All 10 states ranked at the top of Vivian's list expanded Medicaid: these states either raised the income threshold deemed acceptable for eligibility, allowed adults without disabilities or children to qualify, or both. 

Here are the 10 best and worst states for health insurance coverage, according to Vivian Health.