Find U.S. Census data related to your beat (list the data with a link and one story idea on blog).
For my health beat, I examined the U.S. Census data on Medicaid Coverage in Georgia. These three statistics show how different age groups rely on Medicaid for healthcare in the state. For a story, I could explore the Medicaid coverage gap between children and adults in Medicaid access.
Source: (https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/uninsured-rates.html)
- Medicaid Coverage for all ages
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 16% of Georgia’s total population had Medicaid coverage in 2024. This shows that Medicaid remains an important need for residents of the state. - Medicaid Coverage for Children under age 19
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 37% of children under the age of 19 in Georgia were covered by Medicaid in 2024. This is the largest group, which highlights how heavily children and families depend on Medicaid for routine care, preventive health services, and doctor visits. - Medicaid Coverage for Adults Ages 19 to 64
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 9% of adults ages 19 to 64 in Georgia were covered by Medicaid in 2024. This is significantly lower than the coverage rate for children, which shows a gap in access to health insurance for adults.