Access to quality health care isn’t just a service—it’s a basic human right and a key part of a healthy society. This Women’s History Month, we recognize the critical role that health care plays in the lives of women, from preventive screenings and prenatal care to treatments for chronic illnesses and mental health support. Having the right coverage and knowing where to turn for services can make all the difference.

In Georgia, Medicaid is a key resource that helps many women access the care they need. But despite the important protections it offers, many women still fall outside of the eligibility guidelines and remain uninsured.

According to Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families, nearly one in five women between the ages of 18 and 44 in Georgia lacks health insurance—one of the highest rates in the country. The problem is even worse for Hispanic/Latina women, nearly half of whom are uninsured. Black women in Georgia are more than twice as likely as white women to suffer severe complications or die from pregnancy-related causes. Many of these deaths are preventable, yet barriers to care persist.

Georgia’s Medicaid programs offer critical support for eligible women, but they are limited in scope. This blog will help break down the available Medicaid options for women in Georgia, who qualifies, and where to turn for free help enrolling.

The Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia released the “Status of Latino Health in Georgia” at the 2012 Latino Health Summit held at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health on June 7^th and 8^th.  According to the report, 47 percent of Hispanics in Georgia are uninsured, as compared to about 20 percent uninsured in the overall Georgia population. Georgians for a Healthy Future ED Cindy Zeldin presented information about coverage disparities and the expected impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the Summit’s health policy and advocacy panel (presentation available for download here). The full “Status of Latin Health in Georgia” is available for download here, and you can learn more about Latino health in Georgia by visiting the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia’s website here.