ATLANTA — Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed approval for Georgia to transition to a Statebased Exchange (SBE), otherwise known as Georgia Access. Georgia Access will go live as the official health insurance market place November 1, 2024, as Open Enrollment 2025 commences.
Georgia Access, a new division within the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI), is the State’s program for eligible Georgians to shop for and enroll in health insurance coverage in the State’s individual health insurance marketplace. Georgia Access provides consumers with multiple options to enroll in affordable health insurance coverage through web brokers, agents, and insurance companies.
“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 Commissioner 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.”
“Georgia Access stands ready to bring improvements to our State to better serve consumers and help reduce the number of uninsured Georgians,” said Cheryl Gardner, executive director, Georgia Access. “We will meet Georgians where they are, with a goal to continue to innovate Georgia’s healthcare market.”
Consumers may begin shopping for health coverage November 1. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2025, for consumers who select a plan by December 16.
