State Marketplace Subsidies

Georgia already operates a health insurance marketplace, Georgia Access. While applicants may qualify for Medicaid or Peach Care for Kids, strict eligibility rules leave too many adults without coverage. Today, many working Georgians rely on federal premium tax credits to afford insurance, but those credits are scheduled to expire in 2026 under recently passed federal budget legislation.

 

Georgia cannot afford to wait.

Solution: Create state-level marketplace subsidies to help working families afford coverage when federal assistance disappears.

Proof: States like California and Massachusetts expanded state marketplace subsidies and now rank among the highest-coverage states in the nation.

State Reinsurance Program

 

Georgia can lower insurance costs by creating a state-run reinsurance program, essentially insurance for insurance companies. This helps offset the cost of high-dollar medical claims, allowing insurers to lower premiums for everyone.

Solution: Establish a Georgia reinsurance program to stabilize the insurance market and reduce consumer costs.

Proof: States such as Minnesota, Maryland, and Colorado implemented reinsurance programs and saw significant premium reductions almost immediately.

A Georgia Public Option

 

Georgia can offer a state-run public health plan that provides basic, high-quality coverage at a lower cost without answering to shareholders or investors. A public option can coexist with private plans and expand competition.

Solution: Develop a public option through a public-private partnership, giving Georgians a more affordable choice.

Proof: Washington and Colorado have launched public option plans and have seen increased coverage and improved access to care.

Expanding Telehealth Access

 

Georgia’s large rural population faces major barriers to care, especially transportation and provider shortages. Telehealth can close that gap.

Solution: Encourage telehealth expansion through provider reimbursements, tax credits, and updated regulations that make virtual care easier to deliver.

Proof: States including Utah, Texas, and New York expanded telehealth reimbursement and access, resulting in sustained increases in healthcare usage, especially in rural communities.

 

Expanding Medicaid The Right Way

Despite recent federal changes under HR1 (the so-called “Big Billionaire Bill”) making expansion harder, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act remains possible. While not as impactful as it once was, it would still expand access and help prevent further rural hospital closures.

 

Georgia missed a major opportunity. 

Instead of full expansion, the state implemented Georgia Pathways, a program that has failed to significantly reduce the uninsured rate. Worse, its structure was later used by the federal government as a blueprint for Medicaid cuts, further weakening access to care.

Solution: Revisit Medicaid expansion with a serious, results-driven approach that serves Georgians.

 

The Bottom Line

Georgia’s healthcare crisis is not inevitable; it is a policy choice.

These solutions are proven, bipartisan, and already working in other states. I’m ready to work with anyone—Democrat or Republican who is serious about lowering costs, expanding access, and putting Georgia families first.

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