Health Insurance for Self-Employed Georgians: What to Know for 2027
Georgia Access rates are jumping 20%+ for 2027 and both Cigna and UnitedHealthcare are leaving. Here's how self-employed Georgians can compare private PPO vs. marketplace and cut cost.
Private PPO • Georgia • Self-Employed
Health Insurance for Self-Employed Georgians: What to Know for 2027
Why 2027 is a rough year for self-employed Georgians
Georgia runs its own ACA marketplace — Georgia Access (GeorgiaAccess.gov), not the federal HealthCare.gov — and it covers about 900,000 people. For 2027, the state's insurers have filed price increases of 20% or more, and that's stacked on top of the steep hikes that already hit for 2026 when the pandemic-era enhanced subsidies expired.
Self-employed Georgians feel this harder than almost anyone. You don't have an employer absorbing part of the premium, and if your income tops the subsidy threshold, the full increase lands on you. It's not hypothetical — the reporting on these hikes already features self-employed Georgians who simply dropped their coverage because the price got out of reach.
What's actually changing on Georgia Access for 2027
Based on the state's mid-2026 filings (not yet final until open enrollment), here's the proposed picture:
Carriers raising rates
- Alliant — about 29%
- Oscar — about 28%
- AMGP — about 25%
- BCBS / Anthem — about 21%
- CareSource — about 21%
- Kaiser — about 20%
- Ambetter — about 10% (after a 38% jump last year)
Carriers leaving Georgia
- Cigna — leaving the individual market for 2027
- UnitedHealthcare — leaving Georgia's marketplace for 2027
- Antidote — new to Georgia for 2027
If you have a Cigna or UnitedHealthcare individual plan in Georgia, it won't renew — you'll need new coverage for 2027. See the full Cigna exit guide →
Source: Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance & Safety Fire, via Georgia Recorder/The Current (Aug–Sep 2026). Filed figures, not final.
The subsidy cliff — and Georgia's Medicaid gap
The ACA offers premium subsidies up to 400% of the federal poverty level — in 2026 that's roughly $62,000 for a single person and $127,000 for a family of four. Above that line, federal help thins out fast, and with 20%+ increases, the unsubsidized cost gets painful.
Georgia also never expanded Medicaid, so a large share of lower-income residents land on Georgia Access instead. That keeps enrollment high — but it also means the market is unusually exposed when healthy people leave and prices climb. And the people most likely to get priced out are exactly the healthy, self-employed ones — which is where a second option matters.
The alternative: private medically-underwritten coverage
Outside the marketplace, a separate market exists for private, medically-underwritten plans with a nationwide PPO network. These aren't sold on Georgia Access. They require a health questionnaire and, in some cases, a brief medical review. If you qualify, the savings can be significant — and the enrollment isn't tied to a window.
Georgia Access (ACA) — guaranteed issue
- No health questions required
- Subsidies available below the income threshold
- Everyone pays the same rate by age/zip
- 2027 premiums up 20%+ before subsidies
- Two familiar carriers now gone
Private underwritten plan — medically underwritten
- Lower premiums for healthy applicants
- Nationwide PPO network, no referrals
- Flexible plan designs and deductibles
- Enroll any time — no open enrollment window
- Not available if you have significant health history
Who qualifies in Georgia
Eligibility is based on your health history, not your income. Underwriting typically reviews the past 3–5 years of medical records and asks about conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, ongoing prescriptions, and recent hospitalizations.
Likely to qualify
- No major chronic conditions
- No recent hospitalizations (past 2 years)
- No ongoing specialty care
- Minimal or no prescription medications
- Non-smoker (or quit 12+ months ago)
- Healthy BMI range
May not qualify
- Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease or prior cardiac events
- Active cancer treatment or recent history
- Multiple ongoing prescriptions
- Autoimmune conditions (lupus, MS, etc.)
- Recent surgery or a planned procedure
If you don't qualify for a private plan, Georgia Access is your path — and if subsidies apply, it may be the cheaper one. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, which is exactly why it makes sense to compare both before you enroll.
Georgia-specific considerations
Losing a Cigna or United plan?
- Both are exiting Georgia's marketplace for 2027
- Your plan won't auto-renew into the same carrier
- Don't get auto-moved into a pricier plan by default
- Compare private + Georgia Access before you pick
Self-employed advantages
- Self-employed premiums are generally deductible federally
- Private coverage can be applied for any time of year
- Lower monthly cost = more cash flow for the business
- Broad Georgia provider access — Atlanta to Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon
Find out what you'd actually pay in Georgia
We run quotes on both private and Georgia Access options so you can compare apples to apples before deciding — free, no obligation.
Get Free Quotes Talk to an AdvisorKey dates for 2027 coverage
Deadlines that matter
- Nov 1, 2026 — open enrollment opens on Georgia Access
- Dec 15, 2026 — enroll by this date for Jan 1 coverage (no gap)
- Dec 31, 2026 — any exiting-carrier plan (Cigna, United) ends
Good to know
- Private nationwide PPO plans enroll year-round
- Every Georgia Access plan is guaranteed-issue — no denial for pre-existing conditions
- Many of the same Georgia doctors appear across multiple carriers' networks
Frequently asked questions
Is a private medically-underwritten plan legal in Georgia?
Yes. These are fully legal private plans sold outside Georgia Access. They aren't ACA-compliant coverage, so they work best for healthy applicants who clear underwriting — but there's nothing improper about them.
My Cigna (or UnitedHealthcare) plan is going away — what do I do?
Both carriers are leaving Georgia's marketplace for 2027, so your plan won't renew. Don't let the system auto-move you into a "similar" plan — compare a private nationwide PPO against a new Georgia Access plan first. We help you do that and confirm your doctors before you switch.
Can I deduct the premiums as a self-employed person?
In most cases yes — self-employed health insurance premiums are generally deductible on your federal return. Confirm your specifics with your tax professional.
What if I get sick after I enroll — can they cancel my coverage?
No. Once you're approved and covered, a condition that develops afterward can't be used to cancel the plan. Underwriting happens at application, not after a claim.
What if I don't qualify for a private plan?
Then Georgia Access is your path, and if subsidies apply it may be the cheaper one. We quote both, so you're never left without an option.
Do these plans cover Georgia doctors and hospitals?
Yes — they use a nationwide PPO network with broad access across Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, and Macon, with no referrals needed. We confirm your specific providers before you enroll.
Self-employed in Georgia? Compare both sides before 2027 rates lock in.
We run quotes on private medically-underwritten plans and Georgia Access options so you can compare both — free, no obligation.
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Robert Adams
President & Licensed Agent, RKA Insurance Advisors · NPN 19540130 · (561) 806-9913
Rate-increase figures and carrier participation for 2027 are based on Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance filings reported by the Georgia Recorder/The Current (August–September 2026) and are proposed figures, not final until open enrollment. Premium comparisons are illustrative; actual premiums vary by age, zip code, tobacco status, plan selection, and carrier. Private medically-underwritten plan availability and pricing are subject to underwriting approval; private plans are not ACA-compliant and do not count as minimum essential coverage. RKA Insurance Advisors LLC, NPN 19540130. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice.
