Georgia Access approved as State-based Exchange

Atlanta, Ga. (WSAV)—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has greenlit the transition to Georgia Access, a state-based healthcare exchange.

On Nov. 1, Georgia Access will go live as the official health insurance marketplace. This is a new division within the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) and will allow for eligible Georgians to enroll in health insurance coverage in the State’s individual health insurance marketplace.

“Georgia Access is here to connect Georgians with the resources you need to find affordable health insurance coverage,” the Georgia Access website says.

Georgia Access also said that according to U.S. Census Bureau data from September 2023, there were 1.2 million Georgians without health insurance. The goal is for Georgia Access to provide consumers with multiple options to enroll in health insurance coverage through web brokers, agents and insurance companies, which should decrease the number of uninsured Georgians according to the OCI press release.

“This milestone is the result of the extraordinary work our office has conducted over the past three years to move Georgia away from reliance on the federal government for health coverage,” said OCI Commissioner John King. “The Georgia Access approach is an innovative one. It will be the first State-based Exchange to partner with private sector companies to get consumers enrolled. It represents our commitment to expand access to affordable, quality health coverage and reduce the number of uninsured Georgians.”