For the past decade, Georgia residents have used HealthCare.gov to enroll in health insurance. This year, the process has changed. Georgians will instead use the Georgia Access exchange.
If you have previously used HealthCare.gov, you may have received a letter in the mail or email regarding your account transfer. In the letter or email, you’ll receive an Access Code to an account with the information you provided previously. Additionally, you may be re-enrolled with a 2025 plan similar to the plan you had in 2024. It is important to review your plan in the event that coverages have changed.
If you are new to marketplace plans, the 2025 Open Enrollment is available starting November 1st and runs until December 15th. During this time, you can sign up for an affordable healthcare plan. If you sign up during this open enrollment period, your coverage will begin on January 1st, 2025. However, you can still enroll outside of this period if you have a life-changing event that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEPs).
Below, Jones & Swanson will provide the steps needed to enroll in one of the marketplace plans. Not every application is the same, and extra steps and application experiences might vary. Depending on the information you provide, you may experience different outcomes.
BEFORE THE APPLICATION
Go to https://georgiaaccess.gov/ and Log in or Sign up
- If you have previously used the marketplace, you should have received a letter in the mail or email regarding your account transfer. You will either enter your Access Code or SSN to open your account.
- If you are using an agent, broker, or assistant, they will be able to guide you through the following sections.
START YOUR APPLICATION
The application is generally the same as HealthCare.gov. If you had your information transferred you may refer to these steps to edit any information that has changed since the last year.
Family and Household
Enter your personal information, addresses, and forms of contact.
Enter the details for who is applying for health coverage, this includes you as the tax filer, your spouse if applicable, and any tax dependents.
Income Information (May Not Be Needed If The Information Was Listed Before).
Please prepare:
- Pay stubs
- Personal records of income (from a person’s own business or other self-employment, like delivery or ride services)
- Last year’s tax returns (if your income will likely be about the same as last year)
You must provide:
- Expected yearly income and sources
- Any deductions you may have (e.g., Alimony, Student Loan Interest, or Other)
Additional Information
The website will ask if you are currently enrolled in health insurance (specifically if it is through Georgia Access), if you have previously received Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) (and reported them), if you receive health insurance through your place of work, and if you have a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
- An APTC is a tax credit you can take in advance to lower your monthly health insurance premiums.
- An HRA is an employer-paid plan that reimburses money back to employees for premiums or certain medical costs.
If ANY of the previously listed items change over the year, your tax credit may fluctuate. In that situation, you will need to return to the Georgia Access dashboard to report this information by editing your application.
Review and Sign
After completing your application, your dashboard will display your final eligibility results, and you can decide whether to use the full APTC tax credit, a specific amount, or none.
If your expected income is higher than initially estimated, it is recommended to only take a partial amount of this tax credit. You can adjust how much APTC is elected for your plan through “My Applications” and “View Your Plan Details”. If you end up using more or less than what you qualify for, the adjustment will be applied to next year’s federal tax return, which will either reduce or increase the amount of tax you owe. It is highly recommended that individuals update their income information throughout the year to avoid under or over-estimating the APTC.
FINDING A PLAN
Once you are ready, You can finally start to shop for ACA-compliant plans. It is important to note, that pop-ups with quick definitions will appear (this makes it easier to understand terminology), and an easy-to-find filter system is provided.
Choose a Plan
There are three levels of marketplace plans:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Catastrophic (covers worst-case scenarios)
The four types provided, all are based on deductibles and premiums. The higher levels you select, the lower your deductibles are but the higher your premiums will be, and vice versa.
We recommend aiming for a plan with a lower deductible over a lower premium as your costs related to unprecedented medical bills would be much higher than an expensive premium. However, you should choose based on your individual health needs and financial situation. Luckily, the Georgia Access portal provides an easy-to-use program to quickly compare up to three plans.
FINALIZATION
Enroll In Plan
Once you’ve enrolled, you can add a dental plan if desired.
You MUST sign your application and make the first payment by January 1st, 2025 to ensure enrollment.
STILL CONFUSED?
You can check out the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire to clear up any questions you might have before and after enrolling.
If you’re still having trouble you can find a web broker. Web brokers are private companies certified by Georgia Access, and partner with the State of Georgia to provide free assistance.
Missed Open Enrollment?
The initial period is from November 1st to December 15th for coverage to begin January 1st, 2025.
If you were not able to sign up during open enrollment and didn’t qualify for the special enrollment period, you will not be able to enroll with Georgiaaccess.gov. It is important to be ready at the end of 2025 for open enrollment so you can have affordable health insurance for 2026.
Why You Should Use Georgiaaccess.gov
Georgiaccess.gov makes insurance affordable for everyone with some of the lowest prices for healthcare coverage.
Jones & Swanson is not affiliated with any one health insurance company. Our services focus solely on personal injury cases and we do not endorse, promote, or associate with any specific brand.
If You Or Someone You Know Has Been In A Dog Bite, Car Accident, Or Slip And Fall Due To The Negligence Of Others, Seek Immediate Medical Assistance And Then Give Us A Call At (770) 427-5498 Or contact Us On Awjlaw.com for A Free Consultation To Find Out The Next Steps You May Want To Take.
Categories: FAQ, Health & Wellness, Insurance Claims, Medical Bills
