You can’t find affordable healthcare everywhere in the US… But Easy Seniors Club has got your back!
Staying healthy shouldn’t cost you a fortune. Yet, healthcare expenses are putting big dents in household budgets all across the nation. But I did some digging, and I found some smaller cities with affordable healthcare that can offer some relief.
They have the right prescription for low healthcare spending, great doctors, good access to hospitals and other providers, and an excellent quality of life. I considered data on average per capita healthcare spending and related items to determine healthcare affordability in each city.
And even though this was a big part of the equation, it wasn’t the only measurement I used to create this list. I also wanted to know about the number of hospitals in the area, the number of physicians per capita, the number of premature deaths, and residents exposed to hazardous drinking water.
On top of that, I wanted to make sure that the cities I selected were great places to live overall, with plenty of entertainment, recreation opportunities, and dining.
After all, being healthy is awesome, but not if you’re bored out of your mind, right? So let’s not waste any more time. Here are 5 small cities in the US that offer not only affordable healthcare but also a fantastic quality of life!
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford residents spend around half of what the average American spends on healthcare, giving this small city the lowest resident healthcare spending level among the most affordable healthcare on this list.
The area’s high number of hospitals and high ratio of doctors, which is one for every 1,164 residents, help keep medical costs low by promoting competitive pricing. This city’s low premature death rates and pollution helped strengthen its ranking.
One thing that keeps the city from being ranked higher is that 17% of the local population is uninsured. But Hartford’s downtown area is a small historical district with many entertainment and cultural venues no more than a 15-minute walk apart.
Various restaurants and bars surround places like XL Center, which hosts concerts and University of Connecticut basketball games, or Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, where audiences watch Broadway shows, comedy nights, orchestras, and family shows.
Many residents take advantage of the aesthetic and recreational benefits of the Connecticut River, which flows through downtown. And city and neighborhood parks feature athletic fields, walking trails, and passive recreation areas dot Hartford. People can hike, fish, ski, and camp within a short drive of the city limits.
But probably most worth mentioning is that Hartford’s three leading hospitals, which are Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford Hospital, and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, have been nationally recognized for high achievement and clinical excellence, besides having affordable healthcare.
Iowa City, Iowa
Residents of Iowa City spend 17% less on healthcare than the rest of the country. However, residents’ easy access to doctors, hospitals, and dentists earned Iowa City’s top ranking on this list of affordable healthcare. Healthcare costs are low here due to competition between 14 area hospitals.
The good news is that this small city has a doctor for every 634 residents. If that doesn’t give Iowa City locals something to grin about, the ratio of one dentist for every 532 people sure does.
Often ranked as one of the best places to live in the country, this city’s strong economy, natural beauty, diverse population, and cultural amenities attract new residents every year. Trails like the 6-mile Iowa River Corridor Trail link neighborhoods to the University of Iowa, city parks, and the downtown area.
The parks, trails, and collection of recreational facilities are often used in this city, which Men’s Journal named the “Healthiest Town” in the United States back in 2010. State officials recently acknowledged Iowa City as a “blue zone community,” symbolizing the city’s efforts to promote healthy eating, living, and longevity.
Besides affordable healthcare, many local businesses even offer their employees discounts to fitness facilities. In their downtime, residents flock to the Iowa River, an outstanding waterway for kayaking and canoeing.
And the Riverside Festival Stage, developed to look like the Globe Theater, hosts a variety of performances. Downtown Iowa City features shops, restaurants, art galleries, and performance venues, attracting many travelers.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Residents in Lincoln have a whopping 30 area hospitals from which to choose. Having all those options helps keep medical expenses at bay for citizens here, who, on average, spend about 12% less on healthcare costs every year than the rest of the country.
Lincoln’s cultural offerings, clean environmental records, and recreational activities make it one of the United States’ best places to live. The abundance of choices here doesn’t stop at hospitals, though. The city’s attractions range from tennis centers and water parks to performance halls, wineries, breweries, and even a museum celebrating roller skating.
The University of Nebraska’s Lincoln campus enrolls around 24,000 students each year, and many residents go to the UN athletic events such as basketball and football games. Lincoln’s main entertainment district, Historic Haymarket, features a collection of music venues, restaurants, bars, and shops.
Among the many open spaces and parks the city has to offer is Wilderness Park, the area’s biggest park, which encircles 1,475 acres and includes 22 miles of beautiful trails. Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center gave nearly $5 million in charity care in 2011, which helped over 3,800 patients who otherwise wouldn’t afford procedures.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids residents spend roughly 31% less on affordable healthcare than the average American. There are 12 local hospitals, three of which hold national rankings, that serve the Grand Rapids region. These hospitals compete for patients, which reduces medical expenses.
Citizens also get aid from a high number of dentists and primary care physicians. While approximately 13% of the city’s population doesn’t have health insurance, the average resident here lives a few years longer than half of the country’s population.
With the beautiful sandy beaches of Lake Michigan to their west and dense forests to their south, north, and east, locals have plenty of easy access to outdoor adventures. Almost 1,600 acres of parkland within the city limits allow families to exercise, play, and relax.
And the downtown area of Grand Rapids combines a vibrant nightlife, a growing office environment, and charming shops into a densely populated entertainment district. Summer festivals also draw huge crowds who come to taste local cuisine, dance to live music, and view independent films.
Kids get hands-on lessons at museums, while mom and pop can try out craft brews at neighborhood pubs. The quality of affordable healthcare facilities in Grand Rapids surpasses that of even most communities twice its size. Reports rank two hospitals here nationally in specialties. And Mercy Health Saint Mary’s also has high-performing rankings in four specialties.
Portland, Maine
Finding a doctor in Portland is almost as straightforward as finding a lobster. The city’s ratio of doctors to residents is among the highest in the country. That ample amount of doctors, coupled with the big number of hospitals here, helps keep affordable healthcare prices low by giving citizens more choices.
Locals spend, on average, 19% less on medical costs than most Americans. They also enjoy a healthier, cleaner environment. When they’re not getting their fill of that fresh and delicious seafood, Portland natives partake in various ocean-based activities like sunbathing, sailing, kayaking, and swimming.
But the winter months also bring plenty of snow and opportunities to ice skate, cross-country ski, and sled. Beyond the natural beauty, you’ll also find a visual and performing arts scene here that rivals those of bigger cities. Cobblestone streets lead to charming fresh food markets, small pubs, art galleries, dance halls, and theaters.
And don’t forget that ocean views are never far away. Many residents tend to spend their leisure time photographing and painting historic lighthouses and fall foliage that covers rural back roads leading to adorable seaside villages. Maine Medical Center provides nearly 23% of all charity care delivered in the state.
Another than receiving affordable healthcare, if you’re looking to save even more in retirement, check out this fantastic read on how to Maximize Your Social Security
Does the city you live in offer affordable healthcare? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below. And if you liked this article, check out: Retirees Are Flocking to Europe… Why? And Where?
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