A recent Forbes Advisor study has revealed alarming news for Georgia residents: the Peach State ranks as the fifth worst in the nation for healthcare access.
This comprehensive analysis, which evaluated all 50 states, examined factors such as healthcare costs, insurance coverage, mortality rates and the availability of medical professionals.
This study paints an alarming picture of the challenges Georgians face in accessing quality, affordable healthcare.
Georgia’s numbers
Georgia has:
Second-highest percentage of residents who lack health insurance coverage (11.7%).
Second-highest percentage of residents who chose not to see a doctor due to cost (15.2%).
Eighth-highest average deductible for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance ($2,269 annually).
Eleventh-lowest number of community health centers per 100,000 residents (0.32).
Impediments to healthcare coverage
Insurance coverage is another critical area where Georgia lags behind. The high uninsured rate affects individuals’ access to care for many reasons according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute .
Lack of Medicaid expansion - Georgia is one of 10 states that have not expanded the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act .
Coverage gap - Approximately 240,000 Georgia residents make too little to qualify for financial assistance on the Health Insurance Marketplace yet don’t qualify for Medicaid.
Workforce shortages - significant shortages of healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines in rural areas limit access to many Georgians.
The choice to forego seeing a doctor
While the lack of healthcare factors into the percentage of Georgians who won’t see a doctor, the National Library of Medicine says there are other elements in play.
Rural healthcare challenges - Many rural areas in Georgia face hospital closures, lack of healthcare providers.
Time constraints - This can be especially challenging for those who do shift work or have employment that doesn’t allow them to take personal time off.
Low perceived need - Many residents expect their symptoms to resolve on their own, so perceive a doctor’s visit as a waste of resources.
Cultural factors
Traditional gender norms
Social expectations
Extremely high deductibles
Deductibles are high in Georgia for all of the above reasons, but the limited competition among insurers contributes to this in a big way.
The Office of the Governor offers the 2018 statistic that reveals a stark difference in our state’s deductible costs. It cites, “In 2018, many Georgia counties had only one or two health insurance carriers operating in the individual market.”
This can drive costs up for those shopping around for a new provider and for those with little choice.
Low number of community health centers
As of 2017, Georgia has 34 community health centers with 225 clinic sites in 120 counties, but this still ranks us as the eleventh worst state.
The reasons for Georgia’s lack of community health centers are complicated and entwined with the factors already mentioned. However, there are some other nuanced contributors:
Limited state funding
Complex regulatory requirements
Economic factors
Healthcare professional shortages
Limited awareness of community support
Geographic distribution challenges
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