The 2026 Commonwealth Fund State Health Disparity Report confirms something many of us have felt in our bones for a long time: for Latinos in the U.S.and especially here in Georgia: staying healthy is an uphill battle that seems to get steeper and harder. Georgia is at the very bottom in health system performance when it comes to Latinos/Hispanics.
The Gift We Bring With Us: There is a concept researchers call the “Hispanic Paradox.” When many of us first arrive in the U.S., we are actually healthier than most people born here, despite the often difficult lives and journeys we took to get here.
Why is that? It’s because of how we were raised. Back home, life often revolves around fresh, affordable ingredients we grew ourselves or bought from local markets. Even more importantly, we come from a “collective” culture. We have a “village” (extended family, neighbors, and friends) who provide the emotional and financial safety net that keeps us strong.
But once we settle into life in the U.S., that foundation starts to crack. We replace fresh meals are by ultra-processed foods filled with sugar because they are the only things that are affordable and fast. Our support networks are often thousands of miles away and we are intentionally excluded from most crisis and safety net services and programs.
Many immigrants fall into a grueling cycle of survival, working two or three part-time jobs just to make ends meet. This “grind” comes with very few worker protections, no green spaces to breathe in (they are unavailable in most low-income areas, affecting all low income communities), and the constant, heavy weight of anxiety that comes from risking everything for a better future. We don’t choose this lifestyle because we want to; we do it because we have to. Eventually, the isolation and stress take their toll, and our health begins to slide.
The Barriers in Georgia, a Strategic Blind Spot.
In our state, the Latino community is facing a “perfect storm.” The problem isn’t just that there aren’t enough doctors; it’s that the system itself feels like it’s built to keep us out. Between language barriers, the fear surrounding immigration status, and complex and strict rules that limit who can get Medicaid and safety net programs, a wall has been built between our families and the basic care we need.
When a community has the highest work participation rate in the state but the lowest access to healthcare, it’s a sign that our policies are failing. We can’t expect people to build a strong economy when they are struggling with untreated chronic illnesses or drowning in medical debt. When our children (95% of whom are U.S. citizens) can’t get a simple check-up, they can’t thrive. It’s hard to feel like a valued part of a community when you don’t feel cared for.
Bright spots and promising practices and efforts to counter this systematic exclusion both from community organizations expanding services and programs to incorporate health education and navigation and screenings (yes we at LCF Georgia have been doing this since 2020, The Grow Initiative, Ser Familia, etc) to philanthropy (Jesse Parker Williams Foundation, Betsy and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, the Georgia Health Initiative, the Georgia Health Foundation) have sustained our team of bilingual Community Health Workers centering our work in uninsured people across the state in various locations, from Atlanta to rural South Georgia.
More Than Just Labor
It’s time to say it out loud: our healthcare system often treats the Latino community as a source of labor rather than a group of human beings. By denying people preventive care, we are essentially pushing them toward the emergency room, which is the most expensive and stressful way to get help. It’s an economic mistake and a human tragedy. The message is loud and clear: “This place isn’t for you.”
Health is the Heart of Democracy:
When people are too afraid to go to the doctor because of their real, or perceived immigration status or that of their loved ones, or when they have to choose between buying medicine and buying groceries, our whole society loses. A healthy democracy needs all of us, everyone to be able to participate, and that’s impossible when people are forced to live in the shadows. We are essential to Georgia’s future, and our health should reflect that importance.
Building a healthier Georgia isn’t just about opening more clinics; it’s about opening doors and hearts. It’s about recognizing that the well-being of the Latino community and all communities; is woven into the well-being of the entire state. When we (government agencies and appropriators, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, policy makers) invest in preventive care, bilingual services, cultural competency and policies that value people over businesses, we aren’t just improving health statistics, we are recognizing the hard work, and contributions of families who keep Georgia moving. It is time to move past a system that views us as “disposable” and toward one that ensures every Georgian has the opportunity to live a long, healthy, and dignified life.
Interested in learning and doing more? Read a summary of the recommendations from our 2023 Health Status of Latinos in Georgia. You can access the full report here.
Responses