How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Georgia

You’ll want to shop around to find the ideal health insurance option in Georgia, comparing multiple insurance carriers to get the best rate for your needs. There’s no tax penalty if you go without health insurance in the Peach State, but getting coverage may help protect you from medical debt due to an unexpected sickness or injury.

Keep reading to learn more about Georgia health insurance, the most affordable plans, the health insurance cost in some of the state’s largest cities and what types of health care options are available.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in Georgia?

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  Georgia Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Georgia?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Georgia by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Georgia?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Georgia?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Georgia?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in Georgia?

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in Georgia?

While the federal government requires health insurance that covers a minimum level of benefits for all American taxpayers, there are no longer federal penalties for those who don’t enroll in coverage as of tax year 2018.^[1] While some states impose penalties or fines for going uninsured, Georgia doesn’t.^[2] Despite this essentially making medical insurance optional throughout the state, you’ll likely be responsible for paying all medical expenses out of pocket without coverage.

Georgia Health Insurance Rankings

The Commonwealth Fund ranked Georgia 45 out of 51 in an analysis that took a holistic look at the health care systems in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Georgia notably ranked fourth from last in terms of access and affordability for health care and low in other categories, such as reproductive health, women’s health, prevention and treatment. When considering all metrics, the state ranked eighth among 12 southeastern states.^[3]

Below is an overview of Georgia’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:^[3]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Georgia?

Marketplace benchmark plans in Georgia cost $463 per month on average, slightly less expensive than the nationwide average of $477 per month. On average, Georgians pay a monthly premium of $356 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $460 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $483 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[4]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Georgia

The bronze tier of health insurance plans through the State-based Marketplace will usually be the cheapest in Georgia. These plans have lower premiums but higher deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. But, based on your needs, you might want to look into a more advanced plan. For instance, if you have to go to the doctor often because of a long-term illness or are planning several treatments over the year, such as medically necessary weight loss surgery, you might benefit from a plan that charges more in its monthly premium but lowers your out-of-pocket costs.

In addition, health maintenance organization (HMO) plans are often less expensive than plans from preferred provider organizations (PPO), but you might get fewer benefits. For example, if you choose an HMO plan, you might need a referral from your primary care doctor to see an expert. Similarly, for non-emergency care, you might only be able to get care covered by your plan's network.

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Georgia by City?

Below, we’ll review the median monthly rates across all metal tiers for individual health insurance plans for 30-year-olds making $40,000 per year in five major cities in Georgia before considering premium tax credits.^[5]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Georgia?

Ambetter offers the most affordable health insurance plans in Georgia in the silver tier. Depending on where you live, some plans may be cheaper, such as Oscar offering the cheapest silver plans in Atlanta. Below is an overview of Georgia health insurers with an average monthly premium below $500 for 40-year-olds buying silver plans.^[6]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Georgia?

Georgia residents can apply for health insurance through their state-based Marketplace website during the standard open enrollment period from November 1 to January 15. However, any changes to your enrolled health insurance plan must be made by December 16 to receive that coverage by January 1 of the following year.^[7][8]

Enrolling outside of the regular open enrollment period is possible, but usually only after a particular life event that triggers a special enrollment period. These events can include moving to a new home, having or adopting a child, getting married, or losing health insurance through your job. Depending on the type of event, you usually have 60 days before or after the event to sign up for health insurance.^[9]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Georgia?

Some of the major types of health insurance you can purchase in Georgia include the following:

• State-based Marketplace health plans
• Short-term health plans
• Private coverage directly from a provider
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), also known as PeachCare
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in Georgia?

Georgia is transitioning to its state-run health insurance marketplace, Georgia Access, and Georgians will use this platform to enroll in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plan starting in November 2024.^[7] You’ll want to gauge your options between different health insurance carriers by shopping around and gathering health insurance quotes from about three to five insurance providers to compare. You’ll typically need to gather quotes from each insurance company individually, which can become tedious.

You can speed up the process using an insurance marketplace such as SmartFinancial. We can connect you with one of our agents after you answer a brief questionnaire to help you find health insurance that meets your needs. Click here to get a free Georgia health insurance plan quote today!