Is Ohio one of the best or worst states for children’s health care in 2026? What new study says
.png "These are the best and worst states for children’s health care.")
Keeping your child healthy is important, no doubt. However, sometimes where you live can make or break your child’s health.
So, to find out which places are better for children’s healthcare than others, WalletHub recently ranked each U.S. state based on factors such as infant death rate, insured versus uninsured children, obesity rates, dental health and more. After scoring each state and putting the scores in order, the study revealed which states were the best and worst for children’s health care.
“The quality of children’s health care should be one of the most important considerations for parents when deciding where to live. Having access to quality pediatric and dental care, nutritious food and good spaces for recreation from a young age can give children a much better chance of growing up healthy and forming good habits that will last into their adult life,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst.
So, where does Ohio stand? Here’s what to know:
Ohio child health care ranking
Ohio ranked 33rd, with an overall score of 47.68. Ohio had especially low scores in categories of children’s nutrition, activities and had high obesity rates among children. However, the state’s dental health for children was ranked pretty high at 11th overall.
Which states are the best for children’s health care?
Here are the top 5 states:
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Vermont
- Hawaii
Which states are the worst for children’s health care?
Here are the 5 bottom states:
- Mississippi
- Arizona
- Alaska
- Montana
- Kentucky
The full study can be found online.
What do you think of this study? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
