The infant mortality rate was 6.1 per 1,000 live births in 2000. In 1999, 2,499 abortions were performed; the abortion rate stood at 14 per 1,000 women. In 2000, the overall death rate was 911.8, well above the national rate of 873.1. Major causes of death (with their rates per 100,000 population) were heart disease, 204.8; cerebrovascular diseases, 65.7; accidents and adverse effects, 55.8 (highest in the nation); motor vehicle accidents, 26.4; and suicide, 17.8. The first rate was below the national norm; the rest were well above national norms. In 2000, 18.9% of the population were smokers. Death from lung disease occurred at a rate of 73 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1997.
Montana has one of the lowest AIDS rates per 100,000 population in the country. As of 2001, there had been only 341 AIDS cases reported.
Montana's 53 community hospitals had 103,346 admissions and 4,463 beds in 2001. There were 2,989 full-time registered nurses and 666 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 236 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000. The average expense of a community hospital for care was $1,345.10 per inpatient day in 2001.
Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $414 million; 138,266 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 13.6% of Montana's residents were uninsured in 2002.