ATLANTA — Starting Monday, the 1.3 million Georgians who purchased health insurance through the Affordable Care Act can begin considering plans through Georgia Access, the state’s new marketplace exchange.
General registration for Georgia Access begins Friday. For the first time since the ACA’s inception, Georgians will no longer be able to use the federal website to purchase health insurance.
“This milestone is the result of the extraordinary work our office has done over the past three years to move Georgia away from dependence on the federal government for health insurance.” Georgia Insurance Fire Safety Commissioner John King said in a press release.
Former President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010, which launched the federally subsidized health insurance program known as Obamacare. More than a dozen states have established their own exchanges to administer the ACA’s subsidy programs, and Georgia received federal approval to open its own market in August after years of negotiations.
Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp said launching a state-based insurance exchange was one of his top priorities after being elected in 2019.
“A state-based insurance exchange will not only ease the process of getting insurance for Georgians, but will also promote their insurance choices and access to quality, affordable health care coverage,” Kemp said in a press release. It will also enhance our capabilities.”
The Georgia Access website, like the ACA website, should help Georgians find health insurance that is affordable and covers their basic needs. However, there is a possibility that private companies will prioritize their own profits instead of providing comprehensive security to the people, and companies that seek to make profits from usage fees may recruit more subscribers than the federal system. Some people are concerned.
The condition is already made Hundreds of millions of dollars are collected from site registration fees, which previously flowed into the federal system.
Unlike other state-based exchanges, Georgia Access’s website highlights links that direct people to private web brokers and insurance agents. State officials say many Georgians are already using private options and will revoke an agent’s license if they act not in the best interest of consumers.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Two private web brokers affiliated with Georgia, BenefitAlign and Insula, were temporarily banned from the ACA website after a federal investigation and civil lawsuit found evidence of alleged fraud.
Still, some private web brokers received positive reviews, including HealthSherpa.com, which had 550,000 ACA policyholders in Georgia.
Government-funded navigators also help Georgia users understand their options, just as they do on federal websites. Navigators may encourage people to enroll in Medicaid plans, which provide free government health care to some low-income adults.
State officials said they are working to facilitate a smooth enrollment process for consumers and prevent a repeat of the chaotic launch of the ACA more than a decade ago.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cheryl Gardner, executive director of Georgia Access, said, “When you make a big announcement like this, there are always going to be unforeseen circumstances.” ” he said. “But I think what we don’t have is a lack of imagination. We imagine everything that can happen and we’re ready to deal with it.”
