Study finds Georgia is among the most expensive states in the nation for health care

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Prescriptions are just one aspect of health care that determines the overall costs and efficacy of public programs.

The rising cost of living seems to be the most prevalent of all economic concerns for Americans and Georgians alike.

Forbes magazine recently released a study revealing that Georgia ranks as the eighth most expensive state in health care cost. The ramifications of these findings are far reaching, trickling down into all aspects of American consumerism.

The study ranks Georgia in the top 10 of the most expensive states for health care. The average annual premium for employees with single coverage through employer-provided health insurance was $1,646.67, with the annual deductible averaging $2,112.67.

The Georgia median income is $71,355, according to the 2022 Census but that doesn’t paint a complete picture. Couple this with the rising rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and it becomes evident that Georgians, and all Americans, for that matter, may have to make some tough decisions about the health of themselves and their families.

The CPI is a key economic metric based on prices of goods and services which, over a period of time, is referred to as the inflation rate. This metric tripled between 2020 and 2021 rising from 1.4% to 7% causing some American families to have to choose between seeing a doctor and pretty much anything else. Citing a survey by the Commonwealth Fund, Forbes reports, “Nearly two in five adults between the ages of 19 and 64 delayed or skipped health care services between 2022 and 2023 because they couldn’t afford it.”

Almost half of adults worry about the expense of seeing a doctor

This has a snowball effect in that people often wait too long to seek medical care, therefore compounding the cost. The poll goes on to suggest “that 45% of adults are very worried about being able to afford unexpected medical bills, while 39% are very worried about their ability to cover the cost of health care services.”

The unprecedented spike in cost of living in the post pandemic years is affecting all Americans, but it seems to disproportionately affect the South. Of the top 10 most expensive health care states, six are Southern: North Carolina, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana and all are found in the upper tier of the findings. North Carolina ranks as the most expensive, while Hawaii leads the list as the most affordable for health care.

To stay informed and educate yourself about what is available and accessible to you, visit Georgia.gov ‘s health care page for useful information.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with the Ledger-Enquirer.