1. The enhanced premium tax credits ended
From 2021 through 2025, a temporary law made the Marketplace premium tax credit bigger and extended it to households above 400% of the federal poverty level. That enhancement expired on January 1, 2026 and Congress did not extend it. The original credit still exists for households between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, and it still caps what you pay for the benchmark silver plan at a percentage of your income. The percentage is just higher than it was.
What that looked like in 2026, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research organization: the average premium people actually paid after the credit went from about $113 a month in 2025 to about $178 a month in 2026, up 58%. Nationally, about 1 in 8 people who had Marketplace coverage in early 2025 did not have it in early 2026.
2. Premiums rose again for 2027
Insurers file their 2027 prices with regulators during the summer. Across the country, the median proposed increase was about 15%, on top of about 20% for 2026. For Georgia Access plans, the published 2027 increases run roughly 11% to 29% depending on the insurer. If you qualify for the tax credit, the credit absorbs most of the increase on the benchmark plan. If you are above 400% of the poverty level, you pay all of it.
3. Insurers leaving Georgia
Cigna and UnitedHealthcare have announced they will not offer individual Marketplace plans in Georgia for 2027. If you are enrolled with one of them, your plan ends December 31, 2026. Georgia Access will show you which plans are available in your county for 2027, and the current list of participating insurers is on GeorgiaAccess.gov. At least one new insurer is entering the state. We do not list or rank insurers here; every plan in your county is available to you through any licensed agent or directly through Georgia Access.
4. The dates did not change
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. A federal rule that would have shortened the window was struck down in court; the appeal is still pending but cannot realistically change the 2027 dates. Details on our enrollment dates page.
5. What this means for a household like yours
Our three-step request shows you, from public IRS and HHS tables, roughly where your income lands relative to the poverty level and what share of income the benchmark plan is capped at for households in that range. That is an estimate from public data, not a quote. The one licensed agency we name on the form does the real comparison across every plan in your county, at no cost to you, and can also check Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids and employer coverage.
Who wrote this. This page was prepared by the Affordable Healthcare Center editorial team from public sources (KFF, CMS, the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, Georgia Access) and is not written by a licensed agent. It is general information, not advice about your situation.
Common questions
Did the premium tax credit end?
No. The regular premium tax credit from the Affordable Care Act is still there for households between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. What ended on January 1, 2026 was the enhanced version from 2021, which made the credit larger and extended it above 400%.
Why did my premium go up so much?
Two things stacked: the enhanced credit went away, so your share of the premium rose, and insurers raised the underlying prices about 20% for 2026 and a median of about 15% again for 2027.
My insurer is leaving Georgia. What happens?
If your insurer leaves, your plan ends December 31. You will be matched to a similar plan or asked to pick a new one during open enrollment. A licensed agent can compare every plan in your county; our pages don't do that.