What You Need to Know About the Change to Georgia Access

Big changes are coming to health insurance in Georgia, but there’s no need to worry—I’ve got you covered!

Starting this year, Georgia is transitioning from the Federal Health Insurance Exchange to a new system called Georgia Access. This new approach allows you to shop for your health insurance through private websites, insurers, and brokers, giving you more flexibility and choice. However, from your perspective, nothing will change in terms of how you find and enroll in the best health plan for your needs.

What Does This Mean for You?

• Same Plans, Same Benefits: You will still have access to the same range of ACA-compliant health plans, and all of your benefits, subsidies, and protections remain unchanged.
• No Interruptions: You’ve worked with me directly in the past, I’m fully integrated into the Georgia Access system. This means I will help you find and enroll in your health plan just like before, but with even more options to choose from.
• Personalized Support: As a fully trained and licensed broker, I’ve completed all the necessary certifications to ensure I can guide you through the Georgia Access process. You can count on the same level of service and support you’ve come to expect.

How I Can Help

Navigating this new system may seem like a big change, but with my expertise, it’ll be business as usual for you. I’ll still be here to help you compare plans, understand your options, and make the best decisions for your healthcare.

Have Questions?

If you have any concerns or need help understanding the Georgia Access platform, feel free to reach out. I’m here to make this transition as smooth as possible and ensure you get the coverage that works best for you and your family.

Remember, nothing changes from your perspective—I’m fully prepared to help you find the right coverage, just like before. Let’s explore the new opportunities Georgia Access offers together!

What is an Exchange and why did Georgia choose to change?

Exchanges:

A health insurance exchange is a marketplace where you can shop for, compare, and purchase health insurance plans. It’s designed to make the process of finding and buying health coverage easier by providing a central location where multiple insurance options are displayed, allowing consumers to compare prices, coverage, and benefits.

Health insurance exchanges can be run by the federal government, state governments, or a combination of both. In the U.S., these exchanges were established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide a platform for people to buy ACA-compliant health plans.

Georgia’s Approach:

Georgia initially used the federal marketplace but is in the process of transitioning to a new model under Georgia Access, which was part of a waiver approved by the federal government. Georgia’s approach is unique because:

• Private Market Emphasis: Instead of a traditional state-run exchange or using HealthCare.gov, Georgia’s plan allows consumers to purchase health insurance through private brokers, insurers’ websites, or direct enrollment websites, bypassing the centralized marketplace model entirely.
• Focus on Consumer Choice: By using the waiver, Georgia aims to increase competition and innovation by encouraging private companies to manage enrollment and offer plans. The state believes this will improve consumer experience and provide more tailored insurance options.
• Federal Support with State Customization: Even with this model, Georgia will still have access to federal subsidies and consumer protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but the way residents purchase insurance will shift from a centralized platform to multiple private avenues.

Why Georgia Opted for This Model

1. Philosophical Differences: Georgia’s leadership has expressed a preference for a market-driven approach, seeking to reduce government involvement in healthcare and relying more on the private sector to provide solutions.
2. Belief in Improved Consumer Choice: By directing residents to private insurers and brokers rather than a government-run exchange, the state believes it can offer more competitive plans, potentially lowering premiums and increasing the variety of options.
3. Flexibility and Experimentation: The state sees this as an opportunity to experiment with new ways to manage health insurance enrollment, potentially becoming a model for other states looking for alternatives to both federal and traditional state exchanges.

In summary, states create their own exchanges for more control, flexibility, and customization, while others opt for the federal exchange to reduce costs and administrative burden. Georgia’s transition to Georgia Access represents a novel approach aimed at increasing private sector involvement in the health insurance marketplace.