Georgia Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Georgia?

Georgia declined for the second straight year in the America's Health Rankings – from 40th to 41st in 2008 and now, to 43rd in 2009 – according to the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The study listed Georgia's strengths as including a low (13.2%) prevalence of binge drinking and "moderate per capital public health funding" ($69 per person).

The bad news:

• Georgia was ranked among the worst 10 states in seven of the "core" measured categories.
• Just three states have a lower high school graduation rating than Georgia (with just 62.4% of incoming ninth graders graduating within four years).
• In the past five years, the percentage of children in poverty has risen from 17.7 percent to 21.5 percent. During the same time period, the prevalence of obesity in Georgia has increased from 19.2 to 27.8 percent.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of binge drinking – 12th
• Premature death – 41st
• Lack of health insurance – 41st
• Infant mortality – 42nd
• Immunization coverage – 43rd
• Infectious disease – 46th
• Air pollution – 47th
• High school graduation – 47th (62.4 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Georgia.

Does Georgia have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Georgia will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Georgia's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Georgia

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Georgia and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Georgia.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Georgia

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Georgia.

USNews health insurance rankings for Georgia

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Georgia.

Official State Goverment Sites with Georgia Health Insurance Information

PeachCare for Kids is a Children's Health Insurance Program to expand coverage to children in low income families. It is not a Medicaid plan. The plan will pay for preventive services and acute medical care, as well as vision and dental care.

Georgia State Insurance Commission -- provides oversight of regulated industries, consumer protection, and broad-based educational activities.