Private Health Plans for the Self-Employed in Georgia

I am an independent, licensed health insurance broker, and I am licensed in Georgia. If you are self-employed, a 1099 contractor, or a freelancer, this page covers the options that sit outside the Marketplace — what is actually available in Georgia, what the trade-offs are, and when a private plan is the wrong answer. There is no fee for my help. The insurance company pays the broker, not you.

Georgia law allows short-term plans to run up to 36 months including renewals.

Georgia at a glance for the self-employed

Georgia runs its own exchange. Since 2025, Georgians shop through Georgia Access, not HealthCare.gov, and you can enroll through approved broker and partner websites as well as Georgia Access itself. About 1.3 million Georgians enrolled for 2026.

• Fewer carriers for 2027. Ten carriers sold plans for 2026. Cigna and UnitedHealthcare are leaving and Antidote Health Plan is joining, so eight carriers are expected for 2027. If you are with Cigna or UnitedHealthcare, you will need a new plan.
• A big proposed increase. Carriers proposed a weighted average increase of about 21% for 2027, before any subsidy.
• Georgia Pathways instead of full expansion. Georgia covers adults up to 100% of the poverty level through Georgia Pathways, which comes with a work or activity requirement. Fewer than 18,000 people were enrolled as of May 2026.
• Subsidies were doing heavy lifting. The average Georgia enrollee paid about $164 a month after subsidies in 2026. Above the 400% line, you pay the full sticker price.

The 400% line matters more here than most people expect. For 2027 the credit stops above $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four, and there is no phase-out. See the full 2027 income limits.

Your private options in Georgia

• Short-term plans. Georgia allows short-term coverage for up to 36 months including renewals. That length makes them tempting, but they usually exclude pre-existing conditions and often leave out prescriptions and maternity, so read the benefit summary line by line.
• Medically underwritten private plans. Health questions up front, often lower premiums for healthy applicants, broad PPO networks, and applications accepted any month.
• Supplemental coverage. Accident, critical-illness and hospital plans can soften a high deductible. How it works.

When private is the right call in Georgia, and when it is not

With eight carriers on Georgia Access for 2027 and proposed 2027 increases averaging about 21%, a healthy Georgia freelancer or business owner over the subsidy line often saves real money with a private plan.

Stay with Georgia Access if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, take expensive prescriptions, or qualify for a meaningful tax credit. If that is you, I will say so.

The tax piece

Most self-employed people can deduct their health insurance premiums, which also lowers the income that counts toward a subsidy. How it works for 1099 workers.

Georgia questions I hear a lot

Do Georgians use HealthCare.gov?

No. Since 2025 Georgia runs its own exchange, Georgia Access. You can enroll through Georgia Access or through an approved broker, including me.

Which carriers are leaving Georgia Access for 2027?

Cigna and UnitedHealthcare are leaving and Antidote Health Plan is joining, for eight carriers in 2027.

What is Georgia Pathways?

Georgia's limited Medicaid program for adults with income up to 100% of the poverty level. It requires qualifying work or activity hours.

What if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level in Georgia?

You get no tax credit on Georgia Access and pay full price. For healthy self-employed people, a private medically underwritten plan is often cheaper. I compare both at no cost.

Posey Health Solutions · National Producer Number 20609967 · licensed in Georgia and 30 other states. This page is general information, not advice about a specific plan, and it is not tax advice. Plan availability, carrier participation, and duration limits vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and the rules can change.