ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers return to the Capitol this week as higher health insurance premiums strain family budgets in Georgia and push more Georgians toward becoming uninsured. Congressional procrastination has already made Georgia Access coverage more expensive for many families; now Congress is actively debating whether and how to restore the enhanced premium tax credits that helped keep premiums affordable. 

While the outcome and timing in Washington remain uncertain, a potential federal fix would not relieve Georgia’s lawmakers of the need to adopt a state-level affordability plan.

The question is whether state leaders will use the tools available to protect residents from avoidable coverage losses now and build a more stable and affordable health insurance marketplace for the years ahead.

With the final 2026 Georgia Access enrollment deadline just days away, Georgia is already seeing warning signs. Georgia Access has lost more than 190,000 enrollees in the first phase of 2026 enrollment, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 15 is the last day to enroll in a 2026 plan through Georgia Access. 

New projections from the Georgia Health Initiative show the stakes if Georgia does not act to protect affordability. By 2034:

• Nearly 500,000 Georgians will become uninsured
• $10.5 billion increase in uncompensated care costs for Georgia health care providers
• Tens of thousands of health care jobs at risk
• Rural hospitals and underserved communities hit hardest

“Georgia does not have to sit on the sidelines while Congress debates next steps. We can determine our own fate,” said Laura Colbert, Executive Director at Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF). “Because Georgia operates its own health insurance marketplace, state leaders can take practical steps to keep coverage affordable for our families and prevent Georgians from becoming uninsured. Those state tools matter even if Congress acts, because federal action may be delayed, temporary, or structured in ways that still leave many Georgians behind.”

Congress’s failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits leaves Georgia families exposed

ATLANTA, GA — Georgians for a Healthy Future released the following statement after Congress failed to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, a decision that is likely to result in the expiration of these affordability protections in 20 days and result in higher health insurance costs for many Georgia families.

The enhanced premium tax credits are the primary tool that help families purchase comprehensive coverage on the health insurance marketplace and keep monthly premiums affordable for nearly all (95%) Georgia Access enrollees. The vote comes just days before the December 15 deadline for Georgians to enroll in health plans that begin on January 1. The failed vote creates uncertainty during a critical period when many families are making final decisions about their 2026 coverage and relying on these credits to keep premiums affordable.

Statement from Georgians for a Healthy Future Director of Health Policy Whitney Griggs:

“Congress’s failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits leaves Georgia families exposed to steep and avoidable premium increases in 2026. Average premiums for subsidized Georgia consumers are expected to nearly triple, rising from 275 dollars to 814 dollars per month. For families with incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, premiums are projected to jump more than 500 percent. These increases are simply unaffordable for many households, especially in rural communities where options and resources are already limited. Without these protections, up to 460,000 Georgians could lose their coverage, and rural hospitals and clinics will face even greater financial strain.”

A new analysis shows that the combined effects of  H.R.1 and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits will raise costs, weaken rural hospitals, and leave hundreds of thousands uninsured unless Georgia adopts state solutions.

ATLANTA, GA — A new analysis commissioned by the Georgia Health Initiative (GHI) and conducted by Manatt Health finds that the federal changes to Medicaid in One Big Beautiful Bill  (H.R.1) and the expiration of the premium tax credits will significantly increase the number of uninsured Georgians and weaken the state’s health care system and economy. According to the report, Impact of Federal Policy Changes to Georgia’s Health Care Landscape:

• 492,000 Georgians are projected to lose health coverage and become uninsured by 2034.

• Georgia health care providers stand to lose $51.5 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2034, including $10.5 billion in uncompensated care costs, as coverage declines and federal Medicaid financing is reduced.
• The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits alone is projected to cost Georgia 33,600 jobs and $237 million in state tax revenue in 2026.
• Medicaid cuts would cause an additional 12,900 job losses and $89 million in lost state tax revenue by 2029.
• Rural regions in southwest Georgia, middle Georgia, and the coastal area are expected to experience some of the steepest declines in coverage, provider revenue, and access to essential services.

“Every Georgian deserves the security that comes with affordable, reliable health coverage. This new report makes it clear that Georgia is facing a serious challenge,” said Whitney Griggs, Director of Health Policy at Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Nearly half a million Georgians may lose coverage due to changes in federal policy. The impact will fall hardest on Georgia’s families, small business owners, and rural hospitals. However, Georgia is not powerless in the face of these changes. Georgia has realistic policy options to keep coverage affordable and prevent catastrophic financial and health care access issues. Lawmakers can create a state affordability program, strengthen reinsurance, and invest in enrollment assistance to keep people covered. Georgians for a Healthy Future urges state leaders to use this new data and take meaningful action in the upcoming legislative session to protect Georgia families.”

ATLANTA, GA – Starting August 25, 2025, a provision of the federal Marketplace Integrity and Affordability final rule will go into effect that strips Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients of their eligibility to enroll in marketplace health coverage. There are about 17,700 DACA recipients in Georgia who will become ineligible to purchase a plan on the exchange and, in some cases, lose their current coverage. Georgia Access is required to disenroll current DACA enrollees by the end of September.

The Final Rule will have significant impacts on Georgia’s State-Based Health Insurance Marketplace (SBM). Georgia Access, now the second-largest SBM in the country, enrolled over 1.5 million Georgians in its first year of operation, including about 225,000 new consumers. These numbers reflect the program’s importance as a primary access point for health coverage in the state.

Under this policy change, Georgia Access will no longer recognize DACA recipients as “lawfully present,” cutting them off from marketplace enrollment. Starting August 25, the state will block new applicants, and on September 30, it will remove current enrollees from their plans. The state will notify affected individuals, many of whom rely on this coverage to afford doctor visits, prescriptions, and other essential care.

“This change will take affordable coverage away from a group of Georgians who have built their lives here and contribute daily to our state,” said Whitney Griggs, Director of Health Policy at Georgians for a Healthy Future. “While DACA recipients likely make up a small portion of Georgia Access enrollees, this decision will have an outsized impact on their lives and communities. This change also comes at a time when other federal policy shifts will put hundreds of thousands of Georgians at risk of losing their health coverage, further destabilizing Georgia’s health system.”

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia health care and policy experts warned this week that the newly signed federal budget law threatens the health and well-being of families across the state, putting both health care access and food security at risk.

During a press briefing jointly hosted by Georgians for a Healthy Future, the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, and the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), speakers outlined how the law’s deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), along with stricter work requirements, will undo progress Georgia has made in expanding health coverage and reducing food insecurity.

Every Georgian deserves the freedom to see a doctor when they are sick and put healthy food on the table for their family. But experts warned that the new law undermines this basic promise. The cuts and requirements are expected to leave more Georgians uninsured, drive up health care costs, increase food hardship, and strain hospitals, early childhood programs, and safety-net providers.

Speakers called on state leaders to use Georgia’s resources wisely to protect families from falling through the cracks and to ensure no one is forced to choose between paying for medical care and buying groceries.

Whitney Griggs, Director of Health Policy at Georgians for a Healthy Future, explained how the changes to the Affordable Care Act will lead to more uninsured Georgians, higher costs, and added strain on hospitals.

“Georgia Access enrolled more than 1.5 million people in 2025, second only to California, because plans are affordable and enrollment is simple,” said Griggs. “With over 90 percent of enrollees relying on subsidies, the budget bill’s ACA changes could strip coverage from up to 700,000 Georgians unless state leaders act.”

Supreme Court Preserves Life-Saving Preventive Care for 5 Million Georgians

Historic ruling protects no-cost access to cancer screenings, HIV prevention, and mental health services.

ATLANTA – Georgians for a Healthy Future celebrates today’s landmark Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management that preserves access to no-cost preventive healthcare services for over 5 million Georgians with private insurance.

“This decision protects what works,” said Laura Colbert, Executive Director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Since 2010, these services have helped catch cancers early, prevented maternal deaths, and kept Georgia families healthy while saving money for everyone.”

What This Means for Georgia Families: The ruling ensures Georgians will continue receiving essential preventive services without out-of-pocket costs, including:

• Lung cancer screenings for current and former smokers
• Colorectal cancer screenings for adults under age 50
• Mental health and substance use screenings for all ages
• Medication to prevent heart disease in adults 
• Using low-cost, effective medication to treat pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia

Georgia’s Unique Stakes: The decision is particularly significant for Georgia’s vulnerable communities. Communities of color, who face higher rates of preventable diseases, maintain access to early intervention services that catch conditions before they become costly and life-threatening. With Georgia ranking 38th nationally in overall health outcomes, preserving access to preventive care is crucial for improving population health.