How health insurance works in Georgia
Georgians buying their own coverage have two markets: Georgia Access (georgiaaccess.gov), where plans from Anthem, Ambetter, Alliant, Aetna CVS Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Oscar are guaranteed-issue and priced on income, and the private shared-network market, where PPO plans on Cigna, Aetna and PHCS PPO are underwritten and priced on age and health.
Medicaid is not expanded (limited Pathways program) in Georgia. Georgia has no state individual mandate.
What it costs
Full-price marketplace plans for a 40-year-old in Atlanta commonly run $550–$850 a month in 2026; with a subsidy, often under $300. Private PPOs for the same healthy person run roughly $320–$480. Georgia has a flat state income tax, so the self-employed premium deduction helps at both levels.
The Georgia picture
Georgia runs its own marketplace, Georgia Access, and didn't expand Medicaid — so there's a real coverage gap below the subsidy line and a crowded, HMO-heavy market above it.