Georgia Launches 2025 Open Enrollment Period for Health Insurance Exchange

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced the commencement of the 2025 Open Enrollment (OE) period and the official launch of Georgia Access, the state’s health insurance exchange, on November 3, 2024. The event took place at Liberty Plaza and was attended by state officials, private health care partners, agents, assisters, professional athletes, and special guests.

Commissioner King emphasized the importance of Open Enrollment, stating that it provides Georgians the opportunity to shop for, compare, and enroll in comprehensive health coverage suitable for their families. The launch event also featured partnerships with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Dream, aimed at enhancing the public awareness campaign for the Open Enrollment period.

“Open Enrollment is the optimal time for Georgians to explore affordable options for health coverage,” King said. “Our innovative approach of partnering directly with private sector entities simplifies the enrollment process and ultimately reduces the number of uninsured Georgians.”

Georgia Access is notable for being the first state-based exchange to implement a model that offers multiple enrollment pathways. Consumers can enroll through certified agents, Enhanced Direct Enrollment partners, or the Georgia Access consumer portal, with consistent costs for plan premiums and financial assistance eligibility.

Cheryl Gardner, Executive Director of Georgia Access, highlighted the significance of providing various enrollment pathways and emphasized their readiness to assist Georgians in finding suitable coverage. Since the initiative’s inception in 2019, there has been significant growth, with carrier participation more than doubling, ensuring that nearly every county has three or more carriers offering plans for 2025.

During the previous Open Enrollment period in 2024, over 1.3 million Georgians enrolled in marketplace coverage, marking the highest figure recorded in the state’s market. Additionally, individuals previously enrolled in HealthCare.gov have been automatically transitioned to Georgia Access.

Coverage for plans selected by December 16, 2024, will begin on January 1, 2025, while those selected between December 17, 2024, and January 15, 2025, will start on February 1. For those not qualifying for Georgia Access, alternative state health programs such as Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, and Georgia Pathways to Coverage are available.

Georgians seeking coverage can visit Georgia Access for enrollment options or contact the Georgia Access Contact Center at 888-687-1503 for assistance. The contact center operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST, excluding holidays.

Timeline of Georgia Access

• 2019: Governor Brian Kemp announced the Georgia Access Model, which sought to change how Georgians buy health insurance. The state submitted a Section 1332 waiver to the federal government, proposing to exit HealthCare.gov without building a state-based marketplace to replace it. Among other provisions, the model would have turned back the clock to a time when consumers didn’t have the advantages of a “one-stop shop” marketplace that put their financial assistance and quality health plans in one place for easy shopping and enrollment.
  • Georgia advocates, including GHF, vocally opposed this proposal as being harmful to Georgians.
• October 2020: the Trump administration approved the Georgia Access model.
• 2021-2022: After the Biden administration took office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Treasury reconsidered concerns from advocates and others about Georgia’s plan. Going without a centralized marketplace could reduce access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage. As a result, the federal government paused the Georgia Access Model’s implementation. 
• 2023:  Legislation to authorize the state-based marketplace (SBM)
  • May 2023: Governor Kemp signed into law Senate Bill 65, which granted the Department of Insurance (DOI) authority to operate a State-based Exchange (SBE) for Open Enrollment 2024. The legislation also authorized Georgia Access as the name of the state’s SBM. 
  • July 2023: After reviewing Georgia’s proposed transition to an SBM, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) required Georgia to use a hybrid enrollment model in 2024 and transition to a standalone SBM in 2025. HHS’s decision meant in 2024, Georgians could use the Georgia Access website, but GA Access would ultimately take them to healthcare.gov to view, compare, and enroll in health plans. Then, following a successful hybrid transition year, the state would take on all aspects of operating the SBM. 
• 2024:
  • Fall 2024: The Georgia DOI takes over full management of the state’s health insurance marketplace. 
  • November 2024: Open enrollment for 2025 opens using Georgia Access as the entirely state-run health insurance marketplace. Georgians looking to buy individual health coverage will use GeorgiaAccess.gov to shop for, compare, and enroll in a plan.