Georgia ranks second worst in the nation for Hispanic health care, with high rates of uninsured adults and children, according to a report released by The Commonwealth Fund. The report used data for 24 health indicators from 2023 and 2024 to rank how states’ health systems perform for different racial groups.
Health Care Disparities in Georgia
Poor access to care and low quality of services drove Georgia’s 48th-place ranking for Hispanic health. Only Arkansas had a worse score. In Georgia, 40% of Hispanic adults are uninsured, compared to 23% nationwide. Likewise, 18% of Hispanic children are uninsured, compared to 10% nationwide.
Many Hispanic people in Georgia are self-employed, may work physically demanding jobs, and cannot afford health insurance. They often cannot access safety-net programs due to their immigration status. Illegal immigrants are not able to purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act or qualify for Medicaid or Medicare in Georgia.
Impact of Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric
Anti-immigrant rhetoric and fear about deportations also have contributed to people’s reluctance to seek health care. Parents feel it is not for their families, they cannot trust the system or their decision-makers.
Georgia is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid. High uninsured rates and lack of access to care affect many Georgians, regardless of their race, and reflect system and structural-level failures that affect all Georgians.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
