Prairie State Wire

Illinois landed in the 23rd spot in a new study by WalletHub examining children’s health care data among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Illinois earned a total score of 46.86 out of a maximum 100 in the study, which looked at three key indicators. The state ranked 24th in 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, including family doctors per capita, share of children in good health, percentage of children with depression and daily exercise regimens.

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State Rankings on Children’s Health Care

Overall Rank (1=Best)	State	Total Score	‘Kids’ Health & Access to Health Care’ Rank	‘Kids’ Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity’ Rank	‘Kids’ Oral Health’ Rank
1	Massachusetts	64.06	2	2	20
2	Vermont	63.39	1	15	5
3	District of Columbia	61.49	5	10	2
4	Rhode Island	60.57	3	16	18
5	New Jersey	60.03	4	7	50
6	New York	57.05	10	3	8
7	Hawaii	56.96	6	13	49
8	Connecticut	56.12	9	6	32
9	Maryland	55.23	7	25	34
10	New Hampshire	54.06	8	33	27
11	California	52.42	12	17	29
12	Minnesota	51.55	16	14	15
13	Delaware	51.37	13	20	9
14	Pennsylvania	51.32	17	8	7
15	Oregon	50.88	19	5	13
16	Virginia	50.27	11	31	33
17	Maine	50.02	14	26	16
18	Washington	48.77	20	12	45
19	Nebraska	47.78	31	9	23
20	Idaho	47.12	25	21	25
21	New Mexico	46.99	15	39	36
22	South Dakota	46.97	22	23	26
23	Illinois	46.86	24	24	12
24	Utah	46.66	37	4	17
25	Florida	46.60	18	30	38
26	Michigan	46.28	34	19	14
27	North Dakota	46.18	44	1	4
28	Iowa	44.98	36	27	1
29	Nevada	44.98	21	28	51
30	Colorado	44.53	38	22	6
31	Arizona	44.18	30	32	30
32	West Virginia	43.92	33	37	3
33	Wisconsin	43.79	40	18	24
34	South Carolina	43.40	26	45	11
35	Missouri	43.36	27	42	47
36	Kansas	42.81	35	36	28
37	Ohio	42.74	23	46	41
38	Alabama	42.25	29	47	31
39	Montana	41.89	46	11	46
40	Kentucky	41.50	28	49	19
41	Tennessee	40.10	32	51	22
42	Louisiana	39.77	39	43	42
43	Wyoming	39.58	41	41	48
44	North Carolina	39.40	42	38	44
45	Georgia	39.31	47	29	10
46	Arkansas	39.10	43	40	35
47	Alaska	36.89	49	34	43
48	Indiana	36.69	50	35	37
49	Mississippi	36.02	48	48	21
50	Oklahoma	35.35	45	50	40
51	Texas	33.23	51	44	39

Source: WalletHub.com