Maybe it's the air, maybe it's those lakes, or maybe it's just good public policy at work. For the fourth year in a row, Minnesota has been named the healthiest state in the U.S., according to a report issued by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for prevention. Researchers, who rated states on 20 measures of wellness, found that Minnesota's score was a remarkable 21 percent higher than the national average. Among the reasons for Minnesotans' health include the country's lowest uninsured rate, which stands at 8.4 percent, bolstered by a state health insurance program for the working poor. Also, safety-net programs for children have made sure that few live in poverty or die as infants. Adding to all of this is a culture favoring athletic outdoor activities and a low state unemployment rate.
Learn more about the Minnesotan good life:
- read this USA Today piece