In Georgia, your ability to buy an individual health insurance policy from a private insurance company no longer depends on your health status. Under the Affordable Care Act, you might qualify for a subsidy to help pay for your health insurance. If you qualify, the subsidy can be used to reduce the cost of your monthly premium or can be taken as an annual tax credit. To take advantage of a subsidy, you must choose a health plan that has been approved by the federal government and the government of Georgia. These plans, known as On-Exchange Plans, meet a set of standards that aim to eliminate benefit loopholes to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions are not being denied coverage.

If you don’t qualify for a subsidy, you can still choose among the Health Exchange Plans, or consider one of the many private health insurance plans available in Georgia’s private marketplace. We have rated these private plans on a 1-star to 5-star basis, with 5-star plans providing the most comprehensive coverage. What’s the biggest difference between a private market health plan and a government-approved one? The trade-off is usually cost. Insurance companies can charge less for private plans with less-extensive network coverage or fewer benefits, which makes more-affordable options available to you.