Georgia · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on healthcare?
- Keisha Lance BottomsDemocrat
- Rick JacksonRepublican
Part of the full Georgia Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Healthcare
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Proposes expanding Medicaid to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, ending Georgia Pathways, and creating a state prescription drug affordability board.
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- Campaign proposalApril 13, 2026
Her CARE Plan would expand Medicaid eligibility for non-elderly, non-pregnant adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level, end Georgia Pathways and replace it with a different enrollment approach, pursue state premium support for people with Affordable Care Act coverage, create a Georgia Rx Savings Board that would review drug price increases and set limits on what the state pays, and increase reimbursements for rural providers. She has called Medicaid expansion her first priority as governor. 3 sourcesKeisha Lance Bottoms Announces Plan to Lower Health Care Costs for Georgia Families (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · April 13, 2026 · CampaignIssues (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · CampaignBottoms at Atlanta Press Club Debate: I Will Fight on Behalf of Georgians Every Day as Governor (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · April 27, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
At the Oct. 6, 2026 town hall debate, said insurance companies that repeatedly deny necessary coverage should not be able to do business in Georgia, and that consumers should be notified when artificial intelligence is used to make a decision about their coverage. 2 sourcesBottoms and Jackson face off in gubernatorial town hall debate (opens in a new tab)GPB News · Oct. 7, 2026 · NewsGeorgia governor candidate profile: Keisha Lance Bottoms (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalApril 13, 2026
Her CARE Plan would expand Medicaid eligibility for non-elderly, non-pregnant adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level, end Georgia Pathways and replace it with a different enrollment approach, pursue state premium support for people with Affordable Care Act coverage, create a Georgia Rx Savings Board that would review drug price increases and set limits on what the state pays, and increase reimbursements for rural providers. She has called Medicaid expansion her first priority as governor. 3 sourcesKeisha Lance Bottoms Announces Plan to Lower Health Care Costs for Georgia Families (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · April 13, 2026 · CampaignIssues (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · CampaignBottoms at Atlanta Press Club Debate: I Will Fight on Behalf of Georgians Every Day as Governor (opens in a new tab)Keisha for Governor · April 27, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
At the Oct. 6, 2026 town hall debate, said insurance companies that repeatedly deny necessary coverage should not be able to do business in Georgia, and that consumers should be notified when artificial intelligence is used to make a decision about their coverage. 2 sourcesBottoms and Jackson face off in gubernatorial town hall debate (opens in a new tab)GPB News · Oct. 7, 2026 · NewsGeorgia governor candidate profile: Keisha Lance Bottoms (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
Rick Jackson
Proposes an "intelligent Medicaid expansion" through a Georgia-designed waiver with work requirements, and says he would expand coverage without risking $4.5 billion in existing federal funding.
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- Campaign proposalSept. 8, 2026
His September 2026 Action Plan proposes closing the coverage gap for low-income working adults through a Georgia-designed waiver that pairs coverage with work, education, training, caregiving or treatment for adults able to work, and uses private or employer coverage where it offers better value. It also proposes price transparency, accountability for insurers that delay or deny necessary care, patient-controlled health records, using state purchasing power to lower drug and equipment prices, and more rural residency slots and inpatient psychiatric beds. 2 sourcesThe Jackson Action Plan: Build What Works for Every Georgia Family (opens in a new tab)Jackson for Governor · Sept. 2026 · CampaignRick Jackson proposes 'intelligent Medicaid expansion' in Georgia (opens in a new tab)The Atlanta Journal-Constitution · Sept. 8, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
At the Oct. 6 debate, said he would expand Medicaid "to cover everybody" in a way that does not lose the roughly $4.5 billion the state now receives, and said he would negotiate drug prices for all Georgia plans and stop insurers from denying necessary coverage. 3 sourcesRead the full transcript from the town hall debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)Atlanta News First · Oct. 6, 2026 · Transcript or videoGeorgia governor debate: Bottoms, Jackson clash over health care, data centers (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsBottoms and Jackson face off in gubernatorial town hall debate (opens in a new tab)GPB News · Oct. 7, 2026 · News
- Public statementAug. 2026
FOX 5 reports that his Medicaid position has changed during the campaign: in August 2026, the AJC reported that he opposed full expansion and favored an approach involving work requirements and a fixed federal block grant. SourceGeorgia governor candidate profile: Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalSept. 8, 2026
His September 2026 Action Plan proposes closing the coverage gap for low-income working adults through a Georgia-designed waiver that pairs coverage with work, education, training, caregiving or treatment for adults able to work, and uses private or employer coverage where it offers better value. It also proposes price transparency, accountability for insurers that delay or deny necessary care, patient-controlled health records, using state purchasing power to lower drug and equipment prices, and more rural residency slots and inpatient psychiatric beds. 2 sourcesThe Jackson Action Plan: Build What Works for Every Georgia Family (opens in a new tab)Jackson for Governor · Sept. 2026 · CampaignRick Jackson proposes 'intelligent Medicaid expansion' in Georgia (opens in a new tab)The Atlanta Journal-Constitution · Sept. 8, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
At the Oct. 6 debate, said he would expand Medicaid "to cover everybody" in a way that does not lose the roughly $4.5 billion the state now receives, and said he would negotiate drug prices for all Georgia plans and stop insurers from denying necessary coverage. 3 sourcesRead the full transcript from the town hall debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)Atlanta News First · Oct. 6, 2026 · Transcript or videoGeorgia governor debate: Bottoms, Jackson clash over health care, data centers (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsBottoms and Jackson face off in gubernatorial town hall debate (opens in a new tab)GPB News · Oct. 7, 2026 · News
- Public statementAug. 2026
FOX 5 reports that his Medicaid position has changed during the campaign: in August 2026, the AJC reported that he opposed full expansion and favored an approach involving work requirements and a fixed federal block grant. SourceGeorgia governor candidate profile: Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Medicaid expansion
I have repeatedly said that I want to expand Medicaid in the state.
Keisha Lance Bottoms · Answer to a voter's question about Medicaid expansion at the Atlanta News First town hall debate in Doraville · Oct. 6, 2026
SourceRead the full transcript from the town hall debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)Atlanta News First · Oct. 6, 2026 · Transcript or video
Rick Jackson
Medicaid expansion
Well, first of all, I am going to expand Medicaid to cover everybody. I just want to do it in a way that we don’t lose four and a half billion dollars that we’re currently getting for the state, because that would really hurt our hospitals and doctors all over the state.
Rick Jackson · Answer to a voter's question about Medicaid expansion at the Atlanta News First town hall debate in Doraville · Oct. 6, 2026
2 sourcesRead the full transcript from the town hall debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson (opens in a new tab)Atlanta News First · Oct. 6, 2026 · Transcript or videoBottoms and Jackson face off in gubernatorial town hall debate (opens in a new tab)GPB News · Oct. 7, 2026 · News
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