GA is one of the worst states for children’s health care in 2026. Here’s where it ranks and why

Keeping your child healthy is important, no doubt. However, sometimes where you live can make or break your child’s health.

So, to find out which places are better for children’s health care than others, WalletHub recently ranked each U.S. state based on factors such as infant death rate, insured versus uninsured children, obesity rates, dental health and more. After scoring each state and putting the scores in order, the study revealed which states were the best and worst for children’s health care.

“The quality of children’s health care should be one of the most important considerations for parents when deciding where to live. Having access to quality pediatric and dental care, nutritious food and good spaces for recreation from a young age can give children a much better chance of growing up healthy and forming good habits that will last into their adult life,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst.

So, where does Georgia stand? Here’s what to know:

GA child health care ranking

Georgia was ranked 45th on the list, which is one of the worst states for children’s health care. Here’s a breakdown:

• Overall Rank: 45^th
• 33^rd – % of Children in Excellent/Very Good Health
• 42^nd – % of Uninsured Children
• 43^rd – Infant-Death Rate
• 40^th – % of Children with Unaffordable Medical Bills
• 33^rd – Pediatricians & Family Doctors per Capita
• 42^nd – % of Overweight Children
• 30^th – % of Obese Children
• 27^th – % of Children with Excellent/Very Good Teeth
• 48^th – % of Children 19 to 35 Months Old with All Recommended Vaccines

Which states are the best for children’s healthcare?

Here are the top 5 states:

• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• Vermont
• Hawaii

Which states are the worst for children’s healthcare?

Here are the 5 bottom states:

• Mississippi
• Arizona
• Alaska
• Montana
• Kentucky

The full study can be found online.

What do you think of this study? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.