Georgia Health Insurance Premiums Rise for 2027
Individual marketplace buyers in Georgia will pay more for the same plans after ACA subsidies lapsed.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Healthcare
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Georgians buying health insurance through the state marketplace face higher premiums for 2027, after roughly 600,000 residents dropped coverage at the start of 2026 when Affordable Care Act subsidies lapsed. Open enrollment through Georgia Access began in November 2026, and premium increases are expected to hit individual-market buyers in 2027.
Why it matters
The lapse of ACA subsidies removed financial support that had made marketplace plans affordable, so premium costs are now falling on individual buyers directly. Businesses that rely on individually purchased coverage for owners, contractors, or small teams are seeing the cost pressure carry into their 2027 planning.
Roughly 600,000 Georgians lost health coverage at the start of 2026 after ACA subsidies lapsed. One individual's monthly premium for the same plan rose from $831 to $1,088, more than $250 per month.
The players
Georgia Access
Georgia's state-based health insurance marketplace, where individuals buy coverage during open enrollment.
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Former Atlanta mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate campaigning on healthcare affordability and public education.
The details
One Atlanta buyer, Alesha Arscott, saw her monthly premium for the same plan rise from $831 to $1,088 after leaving COBRA continuation coverage and enrolling for 2027 through the marketplace. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms has campaigned on affordability and wants to replace the Georgia Pathways program. Bottoms expects more people to drop coverage because of the higher costs.
Timeline
Beginning of 2026: about 600,000 Georgians dropped coverage as ACA subsidies lapsed.
April 2026: Arscott's current $831 monthly premium period began.
Early November 2026: Georgia Access open enrollment for 2027 began.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Bottoms held a press conference on healthcare affordability.
2027: Higher premiums take effect for Georgia health insurance.
Market Landscape
The lapse of Affordable Care Act subsidies has shifted costs onto individual marketplace buyers, reversing the coverage support those subsidies had provided. Georgia's coverage losses and premium increases illustrate how federal subsidy changes flow directly into state individual-insurance markets.
Operators who provide individual health coverage or reimbursement should budget for higher premiums in 2027 and review their plan options before open enrollment closes. Owners who buy marketplace coverage should compare plans carefully, since the same plan can cost hundreds of dollars more per month. Questions about tax treatment of premium costs are best directed to a qualified accountant.
The takeaway
Watch for enrollment and coverage-loss figures from Georgia Access as the 2027 plan year begins, since they will show how many businesses and individuals absorb the premium increases. Review your own marketplace plan options and renewal dates before open enrollment closes, and consult a qualified accountant on how premium costs are treated for your business.
What happens next
Georgia Access open enrollment for 2027 coverage is underway, and the higher premiums take effect in 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on how coverage changes shape care access, see Healthcare coverage in Georgia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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