Too many Georgians can't get covered or can't find a doctor. Or both.
Georgia is in a healthcare crisis. It is time to fix that.
Georgia had over 1.2 million uninsured residents in 2023. That is over 11% of the population, compared to a national average of 8%.
With ACA enhanced subsidies expiring in 2025, over 500,000 more Georgians have been priced out of their healthcare plans.
As of 2022, 1 in 10 Georgians live in a county with no more than a single physician.
As of 2024, 142 of Georgia's 159 counties are healthcare professional "shortage areas", meaning there are more than 3,500 or more patients for every provider.
With more than 1 out of every 5 Georgians either depending on government assistance to afford health insurance or going without, this clearly is not working. We need new ideas and fresh perspectives.
Georgia already has a health insurance marketplace: Georgia Access. Currently, applicants can potentially qualify for Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids, but requirements limit availability severely. Adults can qualify for Federal Premium Tax Credits, but that is going away in 2026 with the recently passed federal budget legislation.
California and Massachusetts have both increased access to marketplace subsidies at the state level and have some of the highest coverage rates in the nation.
Georgia can implement a state-run reinsurance program. This is essentially insurance for insurance companies, helping them cover high-cost claims and allowing them to reduce the premiums they charge customers.
Minnesota, Maryland, and Colorado all have reinsurance programs and have seen large premium reductions since implementation.
The State of Georgia can operate a public plan that offers basic minimum coverage at a lower premium by not being beholden to investors or stockholders. This is be an area where a public-private partnership can be very effective.
Washington and Colorado both cover state-run public options and have seen increases in healthcare coverage and access.
Given Georgia's large rural population and needs, encouraging telehealth through tax credits or reimbursements to providers can reduce transportation barriers and improve healthcare access.
Utah, Texas, and New York have increased reimbursements or implemented regulations aimed at expanding access through telehealth options and have seen sustained increased usage of these services.
Although recent federal legislation makes this much harder to accomplish, it is still possible to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It will not be as impactful as it once was, but it can help deliver healthcare access to Georgians in need, and it can help prevent the closure of more rural hospitals.
Rather than expanding Medicaid while we had the opportunity, Georgia implemented Georgia Pathways, which the Federal government used as a blueprint for recent Medicaid cuts despite its abysmal failure.
