Farmers Market in Lincoln, NE

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#8. Lincoln

Lincoln, NE residents have 30 area hospitals from which to choose – the highest hospital total for a city on the Top 10 Cities for Affordable Health Care. Having all those choices helps keep medical expenses down for residents here, who (on average) spend 12 percent less on health-care costs each year than the rest of the nation. Lincoln’s clean environmental record, cultural offerings and recreational activities make it one of the best places to live in America.

Big on Choice

The abundance of choices in Lincoln doesn’t stop at hospitals. The city’s array of attractions stretch from water parks and tennis centers to performance halls, breweries, wineries and even a museum honoring the roller skate. The University of Nebraska’s Lincoln campus annually enrolls approximately 24,000 students, and many residents attend UN athletic events such as football and basketball games. Lincoln’s primary entertainment district, Historic Haymarket, features a collection of restaurants, bars, music venues and shops. Among the many parks and open spaces the city has to offer is Wilderness Park, the city’s largest park, which covers 1,475 acres and includes 22 miles of trails.

Top-Performing Hospital

Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center provided nearly $5 million in charity care during 2011, helping more than 3,800 patients who otherwise could not afford procedures. The 264-bed hospital, a nonprofit organization, was the only hospital to receive U.S. News & World Report’s “high-performing” hospital for 2013-14 in Lincoln and was ranked third in the state.

Vitals

• Highest number of hospitals (30) among this list’s cities
• Health-care spending 12 points below national average
• Clean water
• Cost of Heart Valve Surgery – $46,672*
• Office Visit, New Patient (minor problem) – $77*

*According to the Healthcare Bluebook

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