States needs a healthy population to thrive. To achieve that, residents must have access to quality healthcare. That depends on the abundance of healthcare choices—or supply—and on patients’ ability to pay—or affordability.  The new supply in turn increases healthy market competition, leading to more and higher quality options for patients at lower costs. In contrast, excessive government intervention risks distorting market signals, often resulting in higher prices, lower quality, and less access. 

In line with these principles, Common Sense Institute’s Free Enterprise Index scores each state under the healthcare metric based on patient choice, affordability, quality, and private sector versus public control of the healthcare sector.