States with the most, least medical debt

Minnesota has the smallest share of patients with medical debt in collections, at 2.4 percent. Nationwide, around 13 percent of people have medical debt on their credit reports, according to the Commonwealth Fund. 

Here’s how states stack up on medical debt rates: 

States with the highest proportion of people with medical debt in collections: 

1. West Virginia — 24 percent
2. South Carolina — 22.3 percent
3. Oklahoma — 21.5 percent
4. North Carolina — 20.3 percent
5. Texas — 18.8 percent
6. Louisiana — 18.1 percent
7. Arkansas — 17.8 percent
8. Tennessee — 17.6 percent
9. Georgia — 17.3 percent
10. Kentucky — 17.1

States with the smallest proportion of people with medical debt in collections:

1. Minnesota — 2.4 percent
2. South Dakota — 3.2 percent
3. Alaska — 3.9 percent
4. Massachusetts — 4 percent
5. Vermont — 4.7 percent
6. Oregon — 4.8 percent
7. Hawaii —  5 percent
8. Washington — 5 percent
9. Rhode Island — 5.1 percent
10. New York — 5.6 percent 

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