UnitedHealthcare is exiting Georgia’s ACA marketplace Jan. 1, 2027, the insurer and Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire confirmed to Becker’s Oct. 6.
“We remain committed to serving members throughout the transition and will continue providing health coverage to Georgians through our off-exchange individual and family plans, as well as our employer-sponsored and Medicare plans,” UnitedHealthcare said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
The insurance commissioner’s office oversees Georgia’s state-based exchange, Georgia Access. Over the summer, KFF reported that UnitedHealthcare requested a 54% rate increase for 2027. While KFF found that Georgia health plans more broadly requested ACA rate increases for 2027, KFF calculated a national median proposed premium increase of 15%.
“United came to us a while back and then requested a rather significant rate increase, and so we didn’t feel like that was fair for Georgians,” the office’s press secretary, Garrison Bennett, said. “We decided to push back on that, and then after giving pushback, United said that they would be leaving that healthcare space.”
As states finalize ACA rates and the open enrollment period approaches, Georgia is also moving away from its window-shopping period this year, first reported Oct. 2 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
While the enrollment period runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, federal and state websites sometimes give a preview of prices ahead of the start date. Mr. Bennett confirmed the update to Becker’s, adding the state wants to ensure everything is “airtight” amid federal changes.
There have been multiple lawsuits concerning ACA marketplace rules in recent years. The 2027 rule, finalized in May, has most recently faced scrutiny.
Laura Colbert, executive director of nonprofit advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future, told the Journal-Constitution that the change is not “a sky-is-falling moment,” but it does limit the time to review pricing amid premium volatility.
Mr. Bennett said there are teams doing on-the-ground outreach to Georgians leading up to the enrollment period.
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