(FROM GEORGIA NEWS NETWORK) – New research by Whitley Law Firm reveals that Georgia ranks fifth among states with the highest percentage of citizens burdened by medical debt at nearly 12.75%.
Many low-income individuals in Georgia are without coverage as the state did not expand Medicaid, thus incurring debt.
South Dakota leads the list with 17.66% of residents in debt. In contrast, Hawaii boasts the lowest percentage of citizens in medical debt at just 2.3%, attributed to effective healthcare policies.
The authors of the study say the findings underscore the need for healthcare reforms to address the financial strain of medical debt nationwide.