Illinois came in 23rd highest in a new study by the WalletHub website that examines children’s health care data among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on three key dimensions.
Illinois earned a total score of 46.86 in the study by the personal finances website, with the maximum score being 100. The state ranked 24th in the category of children’s health and access to care; 24th for “Kids’ Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity”; and 12th for “Kids’ Oral Health.”
Within these categories, researchers measured 33 different health-related criteria, such as family doctors per capita, share of children in good health, percentage of youths with depression and daily exercise regimens.
About 95 percent of the nation’s 18-and-under population has health coverage, according to WalletHub, although the cost of health care has increased twofold since the 1980s.
Children’s health is especially important in the coronavirus era, the website reported. That’s because children can easily spread the virus, given that they’re less likely than adults to practice good hygiene.
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State Rankings on Children’s Health Care
Overall Rank(1=Best)StateTotal Score‘Kids’ Health & Access to Health Care’ Rank‘Kids’ Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity’ Rank‘Kids’ Oral Health’ Rank1Massachusetts64.0622202Vermont63.3911553District of Columbia61.4951024Rhode Island60.57316185New Jersey60.0347506New York57.0510387Hawaii56.96613498Connecticut56.1296329Maryland55.237253410New Hampshire54.068332711California52.4212172912Minnesota51.5516141513Delaware51.371320914Pennsylvania51.32178715Oregon50.881951316Virginia50.2711313317Maine50.0214261618Washington48.7720124519Nebraska47.783192320Idaho47.1225212521New Mexico46.9915393622South Dakota46.9722232623Illinois46.8624241224Utah46.663741725Florida46.6018303826Michigan46.2834191427North Dakota46.18441428Iowa44.983627129Nevada44.9821285130Colorado44.533822631Arizona44.1830323032West Virginia43.923337333Wisconsin43.7940182434South Carolina43.4026451135Missouri43.3627424736Kansas42.8135362837Ohio42.7423464138Alabama42.2529473139Montana41.8946114640Kentucky41.5028491941Tennessee40.1032512242Louisiana39.7739434243Wyoming39.5841414844North Carolina39.4042384445Georgia39.3147291046Arkansas39.1043403547Alaska36.8949344348Indiana36.6950353749Mississippi36.0248482150Oklahoma35.3545504051Texas33.23514439
Source: WalletHub.com
