ATLANTA -- Starting Monday, 1.3 million Georgians who bought health care through the Affordable Care Act can begin looking at plans through Georgia Access, the state's new marketplace exchange. Open enrollment for Georgia Access begins Friday.
For the first time since the ACA launched, Georgians will be blocked from using the federal website for enrolling in health insurance. “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 Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King in a press release. Former President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010, which initiated federally subsidized health insurance plans known as “Obamacare.
” Over a dozen states have set up their own exchanges to run the ACA's subsidy program, and Georgia received federal approval in August to open its own marketplace after years of negotiation. Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said launching a state-based insurance exchange was one of his top priorities after he was elected in 2019.
“A state-based exchange will not only make the process for Georgians getting covered easier, but will also increase their coverage options and our ability to promote quality and affordable health plans," Kemp said in a press release. The Georgia Access website should allow Georgians to find health care policies that are both affordable and c.
