How Black-Led Movements of the Past Guide the Fight to Close Georgia’s Coverage Gap
Imagine being turned away from a hospital, not because a doctor couldn’t help you, but because you couldn’t afford care. Imagine watching a loved one suffer through an illness, knowing that the treatment they need is just out of reach.
For too many people in Georgia, this isn’t just a nightmare; it’s their reality. Right now, more than 400,000 Georgians are stuck in the Medicaid coverage gap, caught between not qualifying for Medicaid and being unable to afford private insurance. They are parents, veterans, small business owners, and hardworking people who simply need access to life-saving care.
This is not just a policy failure, it’s a moral crisis. And history has shown us that when communities come together to challenge injustice, they can create lasting change.
During Black History Month, we recognize the Black-led movements that have played a defining role in expanding rights and protections in our country’s history. From the abolition of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, and from the fight for Social Security to the creation of Medicaid, Black advocates, and their allies have built a legacy of progress that has strengthened this country for everyone.
That legacy continues today in the fight for Medicaid expansion. Ensuring access to affordable health care isn’t just about policy, it’s about justice. It’s about making sure that no one in Georgia has to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor, between food and medicine, between life and an avoidable death.
History teaches us one clear lesson: when we fight for justice, we all win. And Medicaid expansion is no different.
Black-Led Advocacy That Reshaped America
The Abolition Movement: Laying the Foundation for Justice
Before the Civil War, Black abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth risked their lives to dismantle slavery, forcing America to confront its greatest moral failure. Their work didn’t just benefit enslaved Black Americans, their efforts paved the way for human rights advancements that continue today.
Abolitionists not only freed millions but also laid the foundation for broader justice movements, from fair labor laws to voting rights to protections for marginalized communities. Their fight proves a fundamental truth: when we organize, resist injustice, and demand better from our leaders, we can change the system.
The Civil Rights Movement: Expanding Freedom for All
About a century after the abolition of slavery, Black activists led the Civil Rights Movement, standing against segregation, voter suppression, and economic oppression. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were hard-won victories, but they didn’t just benefit Black Americans. They expanded rights for everyone.
- Women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ Americans gained legal protections inspired by these laws.
- Fair housing and workplace protections grew out of the fight for racial justice.
- Economic policies that improved working conditions for Black Americans also lifted wages and protections for all low-income workers.
These victories remind us that justice isn’t a limited resource. When we extend it to those who need it most, we create a better society for everyone.
The fight for Medicaid expansion follows this same path. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” Medicaid expansion is the modern extension of that fight: A fight to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or income, can see a doctor when they’re sick.
The Fight for Social Safety Nets: A Lifeline for Millions
Black-led advocacy has played a critical role in shaping programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—programs that now serve millions of Americans. Leaders like Shirley Chisholm and Marian Wright Edelman have fought to ensure that social safety nets weren’t just words on paper, but real protections for the most vulnerable.
Thanks to their work, America’s social safety net now serves as a lifeline for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families.
But in Georgia, that lifeline doesn’t reach everyone. Medicaid expansion would change that.
Right now, some opponents argue that Medicaid expansion would be too expensive for Georgia. But the truth is, that states that have expanded Medicaid have seen financial benefits, not burdens.
- Federal funding currently covers 90% of Medicaid expansion costs, meaning Georgia would receive billions in federal dollars to support the program.
- Studies show that states with Medicaid expansion have lower uninsured rates, healthier residents, and stronger local economies.
- In Louisiana and Montana, Medicaid expansion reduced state costs by lowering uncompensated care costs and generating new tax revenue.
- Opponents said it would be too costly in Arkansas, yet Medicaid expansion reduced uncompensated care costs by more than 50 percent, stabilizing hospitals and saving lives. Opponents said the same thing in Kentucky, yet Medicaid expansion there led to economic growth and healthier communities.
- In Georgia, expansion could provide coverage to more than 400,000 people, prevent hospital closures, and reduce medical debt for struggling families.
The evidence is clear, Medicaid expansion is not just a moral choice: it’s a fiscally responsible one.
This Fight is About People, Not Politics
Expanding Medicaid isn’t just about the numbers: It’s about the mother who postpones care because she doesn’t have insurance. It’s about the veteran who risked everything for their country, only to return home and find themselves without health care. It’s about the farm worker who puts their health on the back burner to keep food on the table and support their family, yet still can’t afford the care they need.
These are real people: our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and our family.
Georgia has a choice. We can continue to let hundreds of thousands go without health care, or we can do what 40 other states have done: expand Medicaid and build a system that works for everyone.
The Time to Act is Now
We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding fairness.
No one should die because they couldn’t afford to see a doctor. No child should go without care because of their parent’s income. No family should have to choose between groceries and prescriptions.
The fight for health care access is part of a long legacy of Black-led advocacy that has made America better for everyone. This Black History Month, let’s not just celebrate the victories of the past, let’s build on them.
Join us. Fight for Medicaid expansion. Fight for justice.
Join Us for Cover Georgia’s Advocacy Day on February 24th
The fight for Medicaid expansion is happening now, and you have the power to make a difference. On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Cover Georgia Coalition is bringing together advocates from across the state for Advocacy Day at the Capitol. This is a chance to take action, stand in solidarity with others, and urge state leaders to close Georgia’s coverage gap.
At Advocacy Day, you can:
- Call on lawmakers to expand Medicaid and provide health care for hundreds of thousands of Georgians.
- Share personal stories that highlight why health care access matters.
- Connect with other advocates fighting for a healthier Georgia.
Not sure how to get started? Our 2025 Cover Georgia Advocacy Day Toolkit can help!
This resource is designed for Advocacy Day but can be used year-round to help you advocate for Medicaid expansion.
Inside the toolkit, you’ll find:
- Legislative Advocacy Tips: Learn how to effectively contact and meet with your legislators.
- Talking Points: Clear, compelling arguments on why Georgia must expand Medicaid.
- Social Media Toolkit: Sample posts and graphics to help spread the word online.
- Storytelling Guide: Tips for sharing your personal health care experience to inspire change.
With hundreds of thousands of Georgians stuck in the coverage gap, your advocacy is critical. Use this toolkit to equip yourself with the knowledge and resources to demand action from state leaders.