San Bernardino was ranked one of the worst cities for health care in the U.S., according to a new study.
One of California’s largest geographical cities finished only behind other places like Detroit and Memphis in an April 1 WalletHub report.
To rank health care quality in cities, the study looked at how many family doctors there are per person. The study also looked at both the food and fitness rank, with San Bernardino ranking No. 120 or below.
“Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly and look after their mental health,” Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, said in their post.
“However, where people live can have a big influence on how successful they are at staying in good health, so the best cities are the ones that provide the greatest access to high-quality healthcare, green spaces, recreation centers, and healthy food,” she added.
Some of the best cities for health care were larger, metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Honolulu, Seattle and San Diego.
According to the San Bernardino County website, the city of San Bernardino is 51% Latino and around 9% Black, with a poverty rate of around 26%, almost double what U.S. national average — which was around 11-13% in 2022 — making it one of the most underserved areas in the country.
Los Angeles ranked No. 11, wedged in-between Irvine and Minneapolis, Minnesota, as health care costs rise nationwide.
Another study published this week by Visory Health included the rising cost of prescription drugs nationally, leading to an increase of almost 15% and the average cost of family health insurance up to 7%, the highest it’s been in this decade.
The study found 48% over 55 years old chose between paying for their prescriptions and essential bills. The number was similar at 45% to those aged 35 to 54.
Lastly, the study highlighted 58% of people were unaware they could save money by paying out-of-pocket instead of using other methods.
These studies highlight critical challenges in health care affordability and access, particularly in areas like San Bernardino.