Georgia transitioned from the federal HealthCare.gov to a state-run marketplace, Georgia Access, for plan year 2026. Here's what's different and what to watch.
The big shifts for 2026
- State-based marketplace. Georgians now enroll through Georgia Access (georgiaaccess.gov), not HealthCare.gov. Existing accounts have been migrated, but it's worth confirming yours.
- Enhanced subsidies extended. The expanded subsidies first introduced in 2021 remain in effect — most enrollees pay nothing or near-nothing for benchmark Silver coverage if income is below 250% of federal poverty.
- Open enrollment dates. November 1 – January 15 in Georgia. Coverage starts January 1 for enrollments by Dec 15.
- New "Easy Enrollment" pathway. Filing your state taxes now lets you opt in to be auto-screened for marketplace coverage.
Subsidies you might not realize you qualify for
The "subsidy cliff" is gone — the old 400% federal poverty cap is removed. As a result, even higher-income households (a family of four earning $120K+) often qualify for premium tax credits because the rule is now: you never pay more than 8.5% of household income for benchmark Silver.
If you've checked the marketplace in past years and didn't qualify, check again. The rules genuinely changed.
Which Georgia plans got better
For 2026, several carriers expanded their networks in metro Atlanta — particularly Anthem, Ambetter, and Kaiser. Cigna pulled back in some rural counties. Bottom line: don't assume your current plan is still your best option — networks shifted in both directions.
How we can help
If you're shopping the marketplace yourself, we can review options at no cost — we have appointments with the major Georgia carriers. For families above the subsidy threshold, we also compare marketplace plans against private off-exchange options (which sometimes price better for healthier households). Quotes are free; you choose what fits.