Join Cover Georgia in celebrating Juneteenth

As we approach Juneteenth, let’s celebrate the progress that has been made towards racial equality in the U.S., and pause to assess the gaps and inequities that still affect the Black community. At Cover Georgia, we are and know Black Georgians remain uninsured and stuck in our state’s coverage gap. These individuals work hard earning low wages, caring for loved ones, or managing chronic health conditions while in a vulnerable position: unable to afford private

Job Opening: Cover Georgia Seeking Coverage Captains Around The State

Job Description: Coverage Captains County Engagement Leaders The Cover Georgia coalition works together to expand access to health care for all Georgians, especially those who can least afford it. Led by Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF)*, Cover Georgia educates Georgians and state leaders about the opportunity to close Georgia’s coverage gap so that low-income Georgia adults have health coverage. (This is sometimes called Medicaid expansion.) Cover Georgia needs local people to help their communities understand

Health Insurance Would Help Matt and Other Georgians Recover From Mental Illness

Matt Hiltman lowered his shoulder as his horse galloped down the windswept field, kicking up clods of earth in its wake. His steel armor gleamed in the bright sun, and the audience on the sidelines roared with anticipation. Two horses and two riders fast approached each other on a collision course. The crowd fell silent as wood crumpled into metal with a loud crunch, and Matt’s lance struck true. The opponent careened off his horse

Grandmother in Georgia’s coverage gap

Susie is the sole caretaker of her young granddaughter, but she has a hard time caring for herself because she is stuck in Georgia’s coverage gap. She makes more than $6300 annually, so she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid coverage as a caregiver, and she doesn’t make enough to receive financial help to buy health insurance through the Marketplace. Susie is currently undergoing treatment for cancer but because she lacks health coverage, Susie is only able to

Gov. Kemp revises plan to change private insurance

In December 2019, Governor Brian Kemp asked the federal government to approve a plan that would make seismic changes to private health insurance in Georgia. In July 2020, Gov. Kemp revised his plan and released it to the public for comment. The revised plan is made up of two parts: 1) Reinsurance—which would help to lower premiums; and 2) the Georgia Access model—which would force consumers to enroll in coverage through for-profit insurance companies and

Georgians with Mental Health & Substance Use Conditions Endangered by Gov. Kemp’s Plan to Change Health Insurance

In July 2020, Governor Brian Kemp asked the federal government to approve a plan that would make several changes to private insurance in Georgia. The Governor’s plan is made up of two parts: 1) Reinsurance—which would help to lower premiums for some Georgians; and 2) the Georgia Access model—which would force consumers to enroll in coverage through for-profit insurance companies and web brokers instead of the unbiased and centralized enrollment platform that consumers know and

Georgia’s Uninsured Workers Need Our Help

Georgia is one of 12 states that has not yet taken up Medicaid expansion, denying hundreds of thousands of working adults access to quality, affordable health care. If the state expanded Medicaid coverage, approximately 452,600 uninsured adults, or 39 percent of the state’s uninsured adult population, could gain health insurance. Thanks to a new report from our partners at Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, we know that 44 percent of those working without

Georgia’s Pathways Program: What you need to know

Georgia is one of 10 states that has not yet expanded Medicaid. Our leaders’ in action leaves thousands of low-income Georgia adults without health insurance. Instead of expanding Medicaid, Governor Kemp created a new program called Georgia Pathways to Coverage. This program will cover some low-income adults, but it has a lot of rules and requirements. To qualify for Pathways, you must meet all of these four requirements: Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified

Georgia’s new Health Coverage Commission kicks off its work

Did you know that a new Commission of health leaders has begun meeting to explore how to improve access to care for low-income and uninsured Georgians? Thursday, July 25th marked the inaugural meeting of Georgia’s Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission (CHCC). Established this spring by state leaders, this Commission will dedicate the next 18 months to advising state leaders about how to improve health care access and quality for low-income and uninsured Georgians. Members of the

Georgia’s health care transportation crisis: James and Lamar County

Having access to transportation is crucial to having access to health care. Each year millions of Americans miss or delay health care because they do not have a way to get there. Medicaid’s non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) program helps bridge the gap between home and the doctor’s office for individuals who are covered by Medicaid. In 2018, 396,000 Georgians got to their health visits using the free NEMT benefit. In partnership with The Arc Georgia