Georgia: 10th Worst State for Women’s Healthcare
Apr 01, 2025 06:00AM ● By Rick Baldwin
When it comes to women’s healthcare, Georgia has consistently ranked near the bottom compared to other U.S. states, and 2025 is no exception. Numerous recent studies, including an analysis by financial website WalletHub, place Georgia as the 10th worst state for women’s health. The state’s overall score of 43.3 out of 100 reflects systemic challenges spanning economic and social well-being, healthcare access and safety.
In addition, a February 2025 study by SmileHub revealed that Georgia ranks 37th in women’s life expectancy at birth, 48th in affordability of a doctor’s visit and 36th in quality of women’s hospitals.
All of this is particularly alarming since women make up more than 51 percent of Georgia’s population. Why, then, is Georgia struggling so profoundly to meet the healthcare needs of such a significant portion of its residents?
A Worsening Crisis in Maternal Health
Georgia’s struggles in women’s healthcare mirror broader national concerns. Maternal deaths across the United States have more than doubled over the past two decades. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2018 to 2021, Georgia had the fifth worst maternal mortality rate—33.9 deaths per 100,000 live births —among 45 reporting jurisdictions. Black mothers die at the highest rate—over twice as many non-Hispanic Black women died in Georgia between 2018 and 2020 than non-Hispanic white women per 100,000 live births. Even more alarming, the situation appears to be worsening rather than improving.
Where Georgia Falls Short
A February 2025 study by SmileHub ranked Georgia 41st out of 51 based on essential metrics, including health and living standards, healthcare policies, support systems and safety. While Georgia performed relatively well in safety, ranking 12th, its dismal performance in other categories drags its overall standing down. This discrepancy raises a critical question: How can a state with a booming healthcare industry—where hospitals, primary care offices and emergency facilities seem to open on every corner—still fail to adequately serve so many women?
According to WalletHub’s analysis, Georgia’s poor standing in women’s health outcomes is influenced by several persistent issues:
- High uninsured rates: Georgia ranks 49th out of 50 when it comes to uninsured rates for women, with 17.5 percent of women aged 19 to 44 unemployed. This is primarily due to Governor Brian Kemp’s refusal to expand Medicaid coverage as enabled under the Affordable Care Act.
- Maternal and infant health concerns: The state continues to face a maternal mortality crisis, disproportionately affecting Black mothers and babies.
- Educational attainment: Low high school graduation rates among women impact economic opportunities and overall well-being, contributing to the state’s poor ranking.
- Economic challenges: High poverty rates among women and inadequate healthcare coverage create barriers to receiving necessary health services.
Efforts to Address the Crisis
Senator Sally Harrell GA 40 District
Some steps have been taken to address the crisis. In February 2025, Georgia lawmakers introduced bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes, especially for vulnerable groups. However, other issues, such as the state’s restrictive abortion laws, continue to place many women at risk.
Senator Sally Harrell currently represents Georgia’s 40th Senate District, which covers parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, and is the former Executive Director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes. She highlights the troubling high uninsured rates. “Almost half of Georgia’s births are covered by Medicaid, so any restrictions on access to Medicaid directly impact the health of Georgia women,” she says. “Since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, Georgia has refused to fully expand Medicaid, leaving many women uninsured. About half of Georgia’s counties lack an OB/GYN, and almost as many lack a pediatrician.”
Political Barriers and Policy Gaps
Kristina Lemene, DNP, FNP-BC
She further explains that, while the Medicaid expansion from six weeks post-partum to one year is a step in the right direction, Georgia’s “Pathways” program, which covers people up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level, excludes many women due to stringent work requirements. “The program requires 80 hours of work per month, but at this point in time, taking care of a child does not count as qualified work hours.”
The impact of these healthcare limitations is felt daily by practitioners such as Dr. Kristina Lemene, a family nurse practitioner at Ponce Primary Care in Decatur, Georgia. Lemene echoes Harrell’s concerns. “Access to affordable and timely care is one of the most significant challenges affecting women seeking healthcare services,” she says. “While routine age-appropriate cancer screenings are well covered for those with health insurance, mammograms, colon cancer screening and cervical cancer screening are lacking in the uninsured and underinsured population due to exorbitant healthcare costs and a lack of providers and facilities performing these services.”
The Patient Experience
Rachell M. Dumas, RN, BSN, MSN(c)
“Navigating healthcare as a mother and a nurse in Georgia has been both eye-opening and deeply frustrating,” she says. “After enduring nine pregnancy losses before finally giving birth to my son, I saw firsthand how maternal healthcare consistently fails Black women. Despite my medical background, I had to fight to be heard, push for additional testing and advocate for myself in ways that no patient should have to. For too many women, especially Black women, accessing quality maternal care means having to demand the care that should be a given.”
A Generational Crisis
Harrell acknowledges that the state government has significant work to do as well. In the meantime, underfunded community organizations are left to bridge the gap. “Full Medicaid expansion and a more reasonable approach to abortion would go a long way in improving women’s health in Georgia,” she says. “Improving access to mental health resources would also address one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. But community organizations, particularly in metro areas, cannot meet the need alone.”
Dumas emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy. “For women and new mothers, the most important thing is to advocate for yourself. If something feels wrong, speak up, push for answers, and seek second opinions. Bringing a doula, midwife, or trusted support person to appointments can also make a huge difference.”
Lemene highlights the broader implications. “Healthcare disparities in Georgia will continue to rank Georgia as one of the poorest states in managing obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental health, diabetes and maternal mortality rates. This has a generational effect and will negatively affect all Georgians, including our children, for years to come. A healthy population leads to a healthy workforce, economy and environment to live in.”
Rick Baldwin is a writer, artist and illustrator living in Tucker, Georgia. He serves as a meditation and spiritual practitioner to those who reach out. More at StillAndChill.com.
