A new January 2026 report on healthcare quality across the United States has found that New York is the worst state in the country to fall ill, citing high medical costs, long emergency room wait times, and weak hospital safety performance.
The study, conducted by Auragens, evaluated healthcare systems in all 50 states using a wide range of indicators, including doctor availability, hospital safety grades, emergency department response times, patient satisfaction, and hospital-acquired infection rates.
New York Tops the List for Poor Healthcare Outcomes
According to the findings, New Yorkers pay an average of $14,007 per person annually for healthcare, the highest figure nationwide. Despite this, patients wait an average of 184 minutes, or just over three hours, before being seen in emergency rooms.
The report also found that only 23 percent of hospitals in New York earn an “A” safety grade, raising concerns about patient risk and care standards. Patient satisfaction scores were among the lowest in the country, averaging 2.64 out of 5, despite the state’s relatively high physician availability.
Alaska and Delaware Follow Closely Behind
Alaska ranked second-worst overall. Residents there spend an average of $13,600 per person on healthcare, while hospitals recorded the highest hospital-acquired infection rates in the country. Only 14 percent of Alaska hospitals achieved top safety ratings, indicating elevated patient risks.
Delaware placed third, driven largely by the nation’s longest emergency room wait times. Patients in the state wait an average of 195 minutes before treatment, despite having more than 180 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents. Annual healthcare costs in Delaware approach $12,800 per person, while fewer than one-third of hospitals meet high safety standards.
Other States Struggling With Care Quality
Arizona ranked fourth on the list. Although healthcare costs there are lower than in the top three states, emergency rooms still average nearly three-hour waits, and only 18 percent of hospitals earn strong safety grades. The state also suffers from limited physician availability.
New Jersey rounded out the top five worst states for healthcare. Residents pay nearly $12,000 per year, yet report some of the lowest patient satisfaction scores nationwide. Infection rates in New Jersey hospitals were also among the highest recorded in the study.
Top 10 Worst States for Healthcare Quality
- New York
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Arizona
- New Jersey
- Alabama
- Florida
- California
- New Mexico
- Georgia
The rankings were calculated using a composite score that factored in physician density, healthcare costs, emergency room wait times, hospital safety grades, infection scores, and patient experience metrics.
Expert Commentary on Rising Costs and Declining Access
Dr. Dan Briggs, President and CEO of Auragens, said the findings reflect a troubling national trend.
“Healthcare costs in America have nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from $3.1 trillion to $5.3 trillion,” Briggs said. “But higher spending has not translated into better service. Emergency room wait times have tripled since the pandemic, and in some states, patients now wait around three hours to see a doctor. Higher costs should mean better access, but the opposite is happening.”
Methodology
The research analyzed state-level healthcare data across multiple performance categories. These included the number of primary care and specialist physicians per 100,000 residents, average annual healthcare costs, emergency department wait times, hospital safety grades, hospital-acquired infection rates, and patient satisfaction scores related to communication and cleanliness.
The full dataset and state-by-state breakdown are available through the study’s published findings.
As healthcare costs continue to rise nationwide, the report underscores growing disparities in care quality and access, particularly in states where patients pay the most but receive the least in return.
