What This Election Means for Health Care in Georgia

The 2024 election is nearly here, and the results will have huge implications for health care in Georgia. Your vote will shape critical decisions that affect how affordable and accessible health care is for all of us. From the future of affordable coverage to filling gaps in care for communities across the state, there’s a lot on the line.

As you prepare to vote, it’s important to understand what’s at stake and how the results could change health care in Georgia—especially for those who need it most.

Every year on November 1st, healthcare.gov and state-specific health insurance marketplaces open so that Americans who don’t have job-based health insurance or other coverage can shop for and enroll in health insurance. In 2024, 1.3 million Georgians enrolled in coverage in this way, and this year their marketplace will look a little different. Here’s what Georgians need to know about the changes. 

Since 2013, Georgians have used healthcare.gov to view health insurance plans, qualify for financial help to lower their costs and enroll in the health plan of their choosing. In 2023, Georgia lawmakers moved to change that. The state legislature and Governor Kemp passed a new law that allows Georgia to create its state-based marketplace (SBM). Since then, the Georgia Department of Insurance has been working to create and launch Georgia Access (GeorgiaAccess.gov). Georgia Access launches November 1st. 

As Georgians prepare to cast their votes in this year’s elections, the importance of health care policy has never been clearer. From the future of affordable coverage to the persistent gaps in access for communities around our state, the stakes are high. Georgia’s on-going health challenges highlight the need for candidates who prioritize health and wellness. Georgians need elected leaders who will make decisions that ensure access to affordable, high-quality health care, especially for communities who have historically had more difficult barriers to accessing and affording care.

With this in mind, we’ve developed a set of questions for voters to ask state and local candidates on key health care issues affecting communities around our state. These questions can help guide your conversations with candidates at town halls, forums, or on social media.

Public Health: People, Power, & Possibility

Laura Colbert, Executive Director of GHF, was invited to deliver the commencement address to the graduating Class of 2024 at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Public Health. 

A recording of her remarks is available here and a transcript is provided below. 

Congratulations to the College of Public Health’s 2024 graduating class! 

2024 Session Sine Die

The 2024 Georgia legislative session is over, but GHF is not finished!

We’ve made it to the end of the legislative session and through Sine Die (the last day of legislative session).

In this week’s update we review which notable health bills passed and which bills didn’t quite make it across the finish line, as well as the major health changes and investments in the state budget. 

You can find a full list of this year’s health care-related legislation at GHF’s legislative tracker. In May, we’ll provide one final update about the Governor’s bill signings, vetoes, or budget changes.

Did you enjoy these weekly updates from the legislative session or find them useful to your work and advocacy? Great! We enjoy putting them together for you. We hope you will consider supporting this time-intensive, detailed, and expert-driven work with a donation to GHF! Please give here (and consider making it a monthly gift because advocacy is year-round!). Thank you for your generous support. 

Legislative Update: Week 11

In this week’s update:

• GHF testifies to close Georgia’s coverage gap
• Budget updates 
• Legislation on the move: housing, paid leave, Medicaid financing, & more!
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative Update: Week 10

In this week’s update:

• Action alert: Close Georgia’s Coverage Gap!
• Action alert: Send HB 404 to the floor for a vote! 
• Action alert: Urge your Senator to say NO to HB 1170 new substitute language!
• Legislation on the move: minimum wages for people with disabilities, naloxone, & more!
• Join GHF’s new coalition!
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Make your voice heard! The Senate Rules committee needs to hear from you about 2 bills! 

How can you help? Both action alerts below are directed towards the Senate Rules Committee. Calls are more effective than emails. We suggest starting with two calls to Committee Chair Matt Brass (404-656-0057) and Vice Chair Frank Ginn (404-656-9222) about both bills. Calls to other committee members are also encouraged! Refer to the action alerts below for helpful talking points and please be respectful and courteous to whoever answers the phone.

Thank you for your advocacy! 

Legislative Update: Week 9

In this week’s update:

• Action alert: Urge Senators to modify HB 1339!
• Amended FY25 budget updates 
• Bills on the move: Parental leave and children’s residential treatment programs 
• Crossover Day correction: HB 1125
• Advocacy events: Housing Day at the Capitol
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Action alert: Urge your Senators to amend HB 1339!

Legislative Update: Crossover Day Recap

Thursday was the 28th day of the Georgia legislative session, which is also called Crossover Day. Crossover Day is the final day for a bill to cross from its chamber of origin to the opposite chamber to remain viable for this legislative session.

Today, we run down which consumer health bills made it through and which did not. We have primarily focused on bills that were covered in our previous legislative updates.

Note: After the flurry of activity on Thursday, we are still working to update our legislative tracker with the current status of each bill. While many are updated, it is best to find the bill you are interested in and click through to find the full information about the bill’s status on legis.ga.gov.