Michigan is 23rd in the nation for overall state healthcare system performance, according to the 2025 scorecard from the Commonwealth Fund.
The scorecard compares all 50 states and Washington D.C. on indicators such as access & affordability, prevention & treatment, and avoidable hospital use & cost.
Out of all six indicators, Michigan excelled best in access and affordability, earning the No. 10 spot.
Part of this score comes from the state's low uninsured rate. According to the research, over 93% of Michigan's adults aged 19 to 64 now have healthcare coverage. This is a 10% increase in the last decade.
The fund attributes this increase to state Medicaid expansions through the Affordable Care Act. They say over 27,000 lives have been saved nationally through these expansions, with 44 million Americans enrolled in these programs in 2024.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates over 9.9 million people will lose healthcare under the "Big Beautiful Bill".
Lynn Suftin, a representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told WCMU that federal cuts will affect at least 500,000 people in Michigan alone.
However, not all numbers have improved across the board. The scorecard also says Michigan's early childhood vaccination rate has dropped by nearly 12% since 2019.
This is the 4th largest drop in the nation, bringing the state to one of the lowest childhood vaccination rates at only 66.8%.
Researchers say this is likely due to a rise in vaccine hesitancy since the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the recommended vaccines helps protect against measles, which has seen two outbreaks in Michigan this year alone, according to state data. The disease had been considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
"Maintaining high vaccine coverage rates is critical in protecting the public and preventing transmission of these diseases," said Suftin. "MDHHS encourages residents to check their vaccination records and consult with their health care providers to ensure they are up to date on recommended vaccines."
Measles is highly contagious, with the CDC saying that the disease can remain in the air two hours after an infected person has left the room.
Anyone interested in reading the national rankings report can go to the Commonwealth Fund's website.
