So, it finally happened. Georgia officially kicked Healthcare.gov to the curb. If you’ve spent any time lately looking for insurance in the Peach State, you’ve probably noticed the website looks a little different. It’s called Georgia Access now. Basically, the state decided they could do a better job than the federal government at managing how we shop for health plans.
They weren't wrong about the numbers—at least initially. Over 1.5 million people signed up for 2025. That was a record. But honestly, as we head into 2026, things are getting a lot more complicated.
The big change isn’t just the website name. It’s the money. For a few years there, we were living in a bit of a "golden age" for subsidies because of federal laws like the Inflation Reduction Act. Those extra tax credits officially expired on December 31, 2025. If you’re checking your 2026 premium right now and your jaw is on the floor, that’s why.
The 2026 Sticker Shock is Real
Let's talk numbers because they're kinda scary. According to analysts at KFF and local reports, the average subsidized Georgian is seeing their monthly premium more than double this year. We’re talking about an average increase of 114%.
Why? Because those "enhanced" subsidies were the only thing keeping the costs down. Without them, we're back to the old rules. If you make a decent living but aren't rich, you might find yourself in that awkward middle ground where you suddenly don't qualify for much help at all.
Wait. It gets more specific.
- Aetna is gone. They exited the Georgia marketplace at the end of 2025. If you had them, you had to pick someone else.
- Rate hikes are all over the place. Ambetter (Peach State) saw an approved increase of roughly 40%. CareSource is up about 31%.
- The "Reinsurance" program is still alive. This is the one bit of good news. Georgia has a special program to help insurance companies cover high-cost claims, which keeps base premiums lower than they would be otherwise. Commissioner John King has been pushing this hard.
Georgia Access vs. The Old Way
A lot of people ask, "Why did we switch to a state-based exchange?"
The state's argument is that Georgia Access lets them partner more closely with local brokers and web-based companies. Instead of one giant federal portal, you can now sign up through various "Enhanced Direct Enrollment" (EDE) partners. Basically, you can buy a marketplace plan directly on an insurance company’s site or through a private broker site and still get your tax credits.
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It's supposed to be more "private sector friendly."
But there's a catch for 2026. If you accidentally underestimate your income this year, the IRS is coming for the whole bag. Previously, there were caps on how much of the Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) you had to pay back if you made more than expected. Starting in 2026, those caps are gone. If you're $1 over the limit, you might have to pay back every cent of that subsidy when you file your taxes.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Deadlines
People still think they can wait until the last minute. Don't.
The Open Enrollment window for 2026 plans in Georgia started November 1, 2025, and it officially closes on January 15, 2026. If you missed that January 15th cutoff, you are generally stuck unless you have a "Qualifying Life Event."
We're talking about things like:
- Getting married (congrats!).
- Having a baby.
- Losing your job-based insurance.
- Moving to a different county in Georgia.
If you don't have one of those, you can't just jump on a plan in March because you got the flu. And honestly, the rules for "Special Enrollment Periods" got stricter in August 2025. You can no longer just hop on a plan anytime if your income is below 150% of the poverty level. You need a specific life change now.
The Immigrant Coverage Shift
This is a detail that hasn't been talked about enough. For 2026, there are new restrictions on who can get financial help.
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Lawfully present immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than five years (the "five-year bar") are no longer eligible for those tax credits on Georgia Access. Previously, there was a workaround that let them get subsidies while waiting to become eligible for Medicaid. That bridge has been burned.
Also, DACA recipients are no longer classified as "lawfully present" for the sake of the Georgia marketplace. If you’re in this group, you essentially have to look for "off-exchange" plans, which means no tax credits, or look into community-based health centers.
Breaking Down the Plan Levels (The Prose Version)
Forget the charts. Here is how the "Metal" tiers actually feel in Georgia right now.
Bronze plans are basically catastrophic insurance. They have the lowest monthly cost, but the deductibles are massive. In 2026, more of these are being paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which is nice for the tax break, but you’re still paying for almost everything out of pocket until you hit that $7,000+ limit.
Silver plans are the most popular for a reason. They are the only ones where you can get "Cost-Sharing Reductions." If your income is within a certain range, a Silver plan doesn't just lower your premium; it lowers your deductible and co-pays too. If you qualify for these, a Gold plan is almost always a bad deal because the Silver plan with "extra savings" will actually have a lower deductible.
Gold plans have high premiums but low out-of-pocket costs. If you know you're having surgery or you see a specialist every two weeks, the math usually works out in your favor. But for a healthy person, it's a waste of money.
How to Handle the "New" Healthcare Marketplace
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you aren't alone. Governor Kemp's office is leaning heavily on "Navigators" and "Certified Agents." There are over 15,000 agents in the state now. Use them. It doesn't cost you anything extra to use a broker—the insurance companies pay them, not you.
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If you're trying to DIY it, go to GeorgiaAccess.gov. Don't just click the first "cheap insurance" ad you see on Facebook; half of those aren't even real insurance. They're "health sharing ministries" or "limited benefit plans" that don't cover pre-existing conditions and can leave you with a $200,000 bill if something actually goes wrong.
Practical Next Steps for Georgians
First, check your 1095-A form from last year. You’ll need it to reconcile your taxes and see exactly how much subsidy you used.
Second, if you’re currently uninsured because you missed the January 15 deadline, check if you qualify for Georgia Pathways to Coverage. It’s Georgia’s specific Medicaid expansion that requires 80 hours of work or "qualifying activities" (like volunteering or vocational training) per month. It’s a controversial program and enrollment has been lower than expected, but it’s a lifeline if you’re below the poverty line and don't have other options.
Third, update your income on the portal the second it changes. If you get a raise in June, tell Georgia Access in June. Don't wait until tax season 2027 to find out you owe the government $4,000 because you were over-subsidized for six months.
The 2026 market is tougher than last year. Subsidies are down, prices are up, and the rules are tighter. Being proactive is the only way to avoid a massive financial headache later.
Confirm your current plan's network. Just because your doctor was in-network last year doesn't mean they stayed. Many provider groups in metro Atlanta and Savannah have been renegotiating contracts aggressively, so a quick call to your doctor’s office to ask "Are you still in-network with my specific 2026 plan?" could save you a fortune in out-of-network fees.
Finally, if you're over 30 and can't find a plan you can afford, look into the expanded "Hardship Exemptions." For 2026, the state has made it slightly easier for people over 30 to buy Catastrophic-tier plans if they can prove that the lowest-cost Silver plan would cost more than a certain percentage of their income. It's not a great plan, but it's better than nothing.