Since each state has its own Department of Insurance, the exact specifications and options may vary depending on where you live. While finding the right health insurance policy is something everybody wants to do, it’s best to get to know your state’s requirements before you select a plan for you or your family.

Georgia Health Insurance Options

Georgia uses a federally-run health insurance exchange, which means that anybody enrolling in a qualified plan must do so during Open Enrollment. It is one of the few states that are semi-resistant to the Affordable Care Act’s provisions, despite the fact that more than half a million residents gained coverage from the ACA between 2010 and 2015.

As of 2018, the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) funding was discontinued in Georgia, driving up the overall price of monthly premiums by 50 percent. In an attempt to resolve this, many Georgia insurers tried to find ways to work the sudden jump in costs. Eventually, this extra cost of CSR was added to all Silver plans in 2019.

Understanding Health Insurance in Georgia

Although the federal individual mandate was lifted in 2019, some states kept this law and are still considering it. Luckily, Georgia does not enforce this type of law. So while Georgians can go uninsured, it’s one of the best choices to choose the coverage to avoid going into significant medical debt in the event of an emergency or accident. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or the whole family, you have two long-term options to choose from:

Qualified plans are ACA-compliant plans that guarantee the ten Essential Health Benefits (EHB). These plans are designed to insure more Americans by providing better coverage.

Non-qualified plans are not ACA-compliant, but they generally offer lower premiums with a variety of options for comprehensive coverage.

Even with these options, Georgia remains in the top twelve states with the most uninsured residents. For those who are looking to enroll, there are currently six insurers that are offering both on- and off-exchange plans, which are: Alliant, Ambetter from Peach State Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Kaiser, Oscar, and CareSource.

Individual Health Insurance

An individual health insurance plan is a type of plan you purchase to cover yourself. You can buy this kind of policy through the exchange, your employer, or through social programs like Medicare or Medicaid. However, Georgia hasn’t accepted the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which means that compared to other states, Georgia is more restrictive as to who is considered eligible.

Being insured under a qualified plan remains one of the most common options, with average premiums being (Age 40, Zip code 30004):

  • Single Adult

    Single adult

    $465
  • Married Couple

    Married Couple

    $930

Since these monthly premiums can be too high for many individuals, many choose to opt for non-qualified plans, which are ultimately cheaper.

Family Health Insurance

Family health insurance is a type of coverage you can purchase for you, your spouse, and your children. You can obtain a policy through the exchange or your employer. Social options like Medicare or Medicaid are primarily geared towards individuals and only accept families with certain eligibility.

In Georgia, you can expect these average premiums for a qualified plan (Age 40, Zip code 30004):

  • Health Maintenance Organization

    A married couple with one child

    $1,233
  • Health Maintenance Organization

    A married couple with two children

    $1,536
  • Health Maintenance Organization

    A married couple with three children

    $1,839

These plans have excellent benefits for the whole family, but for many self-employed, these types of premiums can get too costly. While still ensuring coverage for the entire family at a reasonable price, many individuals consider non-qualified plans.

Georgia Short Term Health Insurance

Short Term Health Insurance in Georgia

Short-term health plans are an excellent option for those who want coverage while looking for a more permanent policy. Some people who could benefit from a short-term policy might be:

  • Young adults who just turned 26 and have been removed from their parents’ qualified plan
  • Individuals who are waiting for their new employer or spouse’s insurance to take effect
  • People who missed the Open Enrollment and want coverage

Georgia doesn’t follow any state-specific regulations for short-term plans, which means that they automatically default to federal laws. Federal regulations recently updated in 2018, where policies can be set up to 364 days with the option to renew, with a total duration of 36 months.

Find the Right Plan Today

Finding the right plan doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Instead of spending hours browsing through your state’s enrollment website, take a look at iHealth Agents. As a free marketplace, you can search through a variety of qualified and non-qualified plans that are perfect for you or the family. Find your new policy today.