Atlanta is a healthcare hub in the southeastern United States. The Emory University healthcare system, Piedmont Healthcare, and WellStar Health System are the major medical networks covering the entire metro area.

In particular, Emory University Hospital is located in the same city as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters, making it nationally renowned in the fields of infectious disease research and specialized treatment. It is also the first hospital in the U.S. to treat Ebola virus patients.

Selecting a Primary Care Physician (PCP) for primary care is very important in the U.S. healthcare system. In Gwinnett County, where many Koreans reside, there are numerous Korean doctors who offer services in Korean.

You can obtain information through the Gwinnett County Korean Medical Association or search for in-network Korean doctors on insurance company websites. There are many Korean doctors in internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics, as well as specialists in dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry.

Health insurance is divided into employer-provided insurance, individually purchased insurance (ACA marketplace), Medicare (for those over 65), and Medicaid (for low-income individuals). Georgia is one of the states that has not fully implemented Medicaid expansion, resulting in a relatively high number of uninsured low-income individuals.

If you need to receive care without insurance, you can find Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) where you can receive affordable care based on a sliding scale according to income. The Gwinnett County Health Department offers various public health services.

In emergencies, you can call 911 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room (ER). For non-emergency situations, using an Urgent Care center can result in shorter wait times and lower costs compared to the ER. Chain Urgent Care facilities like CVS Minute Clinic, Piedmont Urgent Care, and WellStar GoHealth are located throughout the metro area. Pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, Kroger Pharmacy, and Publix Pharmacy are common, and there are also some Korean-operated pharmacies in areas with a high Korean population, making communication easier.

Interest in mental health services is also increasing in the Korean community. While it can be challenging to find therapists or counselors who can provide services in Korean, you can search for "Korean-speaking therapist Atlanta" on platforms like Psychology Today to find some professionals.

Telehealth (remote consultations) has also become widely established since COVID-19, and some people utilize it by consulting with doctors in Korea and then relaying that information to doctors in the U.S. when there are language barriers.