This Month in Health Advocacy: February 2026
February 2026 | Cover Georgia Coalition
Imagine being turned away from a doctor, not because care wasn’t available, but because you couldn’t afford it. For hundreds of thousands of Georgians, that isn’t a hypothetical. It’s their everyday reality, and it’s why the work of Cover Georgia exists.
This month, as we celebrate Black History Month, we are reminded that the fight for health care access has deep roots. From the abolition movement to the Civil Rights Movement to the creation of Medicaid itself, Black-led advocacy has always pushed this country toward fairness and justice for all. That fight continues here in Georgia today.
The stakes are clear. February is also American Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month, and the connection is direct: heart disease and cancer are treatable, manageable conditions for people who can visit a doctor for screenings and preventive care. But when hundreds of thousands of Georgians can’t afford care, manageable conditions can become life-threatening ones. And that burden doesn’t fall equally on everyone. Black Georgians are uninsured at disproportionately higher rates, a gap that reflects decades of systemic barriers to care. The coverage gap doesn’t just leave people uninsured. It stands between Georgians and the care that could save their lives.
Medicaid expansion would change that. History has shown us that when communities organize and demand better, change is possible. Read our blog on how Black-led movements of the past guide the fight to close Georgia’s coverage gap today. Learn more from our partners at Black Voters Matter, the American Heart Association, and ACS-CAN.
Meet Your Legislator This Session
Cover Georgia is working with partner organizations and Georgians just like you to schedule and support constituent meetings with legislators from priority districts. We are currently inviting Georgians who live in or near the following communities to participate:
If you live in these areas and want to meet with your state legislator at the Capitol, or if your organization wants to help with scheduling or attending, please reach out to Jessica Franks, Cover Georgia’s new campaign manager, at jfranks@healthyfuturega.org.
Can’t make it to the Capitol in person? You can still make your voice heard right now. Calls are more effective than emails, so if you have just a few minutes:
- Find and call your state legislators here.
- Prefer to write? Email your state legislators here.
Want to do even more? Click here to use this resource to engage your lawmakers and show why closing Georgia’s coverage gap matters.
Your Story Can Change Policy
Thousands of our Georgia neighbors are caught in the coverage gap. They work hard, they pay taxes, and they still can’t afford to see a doctor when they get sick.
Behind every number is a real person: a mother who skipped her own care to keep the lights on, a construction worker who ignored a lump because a screening would make paying the rent harder, a student managing a chronic condition without a primary care doctor, cutting medications in half to make them last.
Personal stories are one of the most powerful tools we have. When legislators hear from real constituents about the real cost of Georgia’s coverage gap, it builds the momentum needed to finally move this state forward.
Whether you are uninsured yourself, you care for someone who is, or you work with people every day who fall through the cracks, your story matters.
Your story will be kept confidential unless you choose otherwise. Sharing takes just a few minutes and can make a real difference.
Welcome, New Coalition Member!
We are excited to welcome Partners 4 Faith and Justice to the Cover Georgia coalition. We are stronger when many different partners raise their hands and want to participate. We are glad to have you with us.
Support the Campaign
The work of closing Georgia’s coverage gap takes sustained effort: building coalitions, training advocates, coordinating legislative meetings, and collecting and elevating the stories of Georgians who need coverage. If you believe in this work, please consider making a contribution to help us keep it going.
Every dollar helps us advocate for the Georgians living in the coverage gap who deserve the health care they have been waiting on for too long.