ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - If you buy your own health insurance in Georgia, don’t let your plan renew on autopilot this year.

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage through Georgia Access is underway. Premiums, financial help and even eligibility could change. About 900,000 Georgians were enrolled in individual market coverage as of September, according to Georgia Access.

Rates are rising for nine insurers

Nine insurers in Georgia’s individual market show final 2027 rate increases. On average, the increases range from about 11% to nearly 40%, according to federal rate review data on HealthCare.gov.

Source: CMS Georgia Rate Review Submissions, individual market, 2027. Averages are by insurer. Changes for individual plans vary. UnitedHealthcare’s plans range from 0% to 56.15%, and Oscar’s go up to 42.49%.

What to do before you enroll

1. Update your Georgia Access application.List your expected income, household size and any job-based coverage. That information determines your financial help and your monthly bill.

Report any changes in your life. Those include a raise, a new job, a move, marriage, divorce, a new baby or the loss of workplace coverage.

2. Understand the repayment risk.Starting with the 2026 tax year, you must repay the full amount of any excess advance premium tax credit, according to the IRS. Before this year, repayment was capped.

If you underestimate your income, you could owe the difference at tax time.

3. Compare plans. Don’t just renew.Georgia Access says it will automatically re-enroll you in your existing plan and send a notice. The agency also says the plan that fit best this year “may not be the best for the upcoming year.”

Check these before you decide:

• Monthly premium
• Deductible
• Out-of-pocket maximum
• Prescription coverage
• Whether your doctors are in-network

If your 2026 insurer is not offering plans in your area for 2027, you will need to pick a new plan.

4. Check the income limit. Enhanced federal subsidies expired at the end of 2025. Federal help is again unavailable to households above 400% of the federal poverty level.

Change for some lawfully present noncitizens

There is another change for some lawfully present noncitizens.

Federal guidance released Oct. 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says that starting in 2027, advance premium tax credits and income-based cost-sharing reductions are allowed only for U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and eligible noncitizens. Cost-sharing reductions lower deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.

Eligible noncitizens are lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants and people lawfully residing under a Compact of Free Association, according to the guidance.

Other lawfully present noncitizens may still enroll if they are otherwise eligible, but they would pay the full premium.

Key dates

• Nov. 1: Open enrollment began.
• Dec. 15: Last day to enroll for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027.
• Jan. 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends. Enroll by this date for coverage starting Feb. 1.

To explore enrollment options, go to GeorgiaAccess.gov.

For help with your application, financial assistance, and enrollment, call our contact center at 1-888-687-1503 (TTY Line 711).

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