Where Does Your State Rank? The Best and Worst for Women’s Health Insurance Coverage

Today, the Census Bureau released new state by state data on women’s health insurance coverage. The data is clear: all states are not equal. In some states, like Massachusetts, nearly all women have health insurance. But, in other states, like Texas, almost one-third of women are uninsured. Without insurance, women have to worry about where to get the health care they need and also have to consider how a costly health care problem could harm their family’s economic stability.

Below, we’ve ranked the best and worst states for health insurance coverage of women aged 18-64, so you can see the range of health coverage across the states.

First, the five best states for women’s health insurance coverage:

1. And, the winner is: Massachusetts! Over 96 percent of women have health insurance in the Bay State.
2. Beyond the memorials and museums, the nation’s capital has a lot to offer. Over 93 percent of women in Washington, DC have health insurance.
3. Ben and Jerry's should name a flavor after this: 93 percent of women in Vermont have health insurance.
4. Aloha, Hawaii! 91.7 percent of women have health insurance in this sunny paradise.
5. You don’t have to worry about catching a cold in Minnesota, 91.25 percent of women have health insurance.

And, here are the five worst states:

1. It’s true. Everything is bigger in Texas—including the number of uninsured women. Over 29 percent of women are uninsured in Texas.
2. Nevada’s rolling the dice for women’s health. In Nevada, 26.7 percent of women lack health insurance.
3. The Sunshine State isn’t looking so sunny for women: 26.3 percent of women in Florida are uninsured.
4. Oh, Oklahoma, where 24 percent of women are uninsured.
5. And, New Mexico isn’t so enchanting either, 24 percent of women are uninsured there.

Every state has its own personality, but where you live shouldn’t determine whether or not you have health insurance. With enrollment under the health care law right around the corner, women in these five worst-states will soon have new options for health coverage.