Individual Health Insurance
Coverage when it isn't coming from an employer.
Self-employed, between jobs, retired before 65, or working somewhere that doesn't offer a plan. Here are your real options in Georgia.
Start Here
The ACA Marketplace
For most people buying their own health insurance, the Marketplace is the right starting point — largely because of the subsidies.
Marketplace plans cannot deny you or charge you more for a pre‑existing condition, and every plan must cover a defined set of essential health benefits: hospitalization, emergency care, prescriptions, preventive care, maternity, mental health and more.
Premium tax credits
Many households qualify for subsidies that reduce the monthly premium, sometimes dramatically. Eligibility depends on your estimated household income for the year and your family size. A large number of people who assume they earn too much to qualify actually do — it is worth five minutes to check rather than guessing.
Subsidy rules change
Federal subsidy levels and eligibility thresholds have been adjusted several times in recent years and can change again. Before relying on any figure, confirm current‑year rules at HealthCare.gov or let us run your specific numbers.
Metal tiers
| Tier | Plan pays roughly | Generally fits |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | Healthy, rarely see a doctor, want protection from a catastrophe at the lowest premium |
| Silver | 70% | Moderate use — and the only tier where cost‑sharing reductions apply if you qualify by income |
| Gold | 80% | Regular care, ongoing prescriptions, or a chronic condition |
| Platinum | 90% | Heavy, predictable medical use where a high premium beats high bills |
Percentages describe the share of total covered costs the plan pays across a standard population — not what your individual bill will be.
The Silver trap, and the Silver bonus
If your income qualifies you for cost‑sharing reductions, those only attach to Silver plans. A Silver plan can end up with a lower deductible than Gold for the same household. Skipping straight past Silver on premium alone is a common and costly error.
Who We Help
Different situations, different answers
Families
Balancing premium against deductible when several people are on one plan, and checking that your children's pediatrician and your own doctors are all in the same network.
Self‑employed
Freelancers, contractors and small business owners. Income estimation matters here — subsidies reconcile at tax time, so estimating well protects you from a surprise.
Early retirees
Retired before 65 and bridging the gap to Medicare. This is one of the most expensive stretches of anyone's insurance life and one of the most plannable.
Between jobs
Losing employer coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period. A Marketplace plan is often far cheaper than COBRA — but the window is limited, so don't sit on it.
Young adults
Aging off a parent's plan at 26. Another Special Enrollment Period, another deadline that is easy to miss.
Managing a condition
When you have ongoing care, the network and drug formulary matter far more than the premium. We check your specific doctors and medications before you enroll, not after.
Enrollment Windows
When you can actually sign up
- Open Enrollment. Roughly November 1 through mid‑January in most years. Confirm current dates at HealthCare.gov — they have shifted before.
- Special Enrollment Period. Triggered by a qualifying life event: losing coverage, marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, a permanent move, or certain income changes. Usually 60 days.
- Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. No limited window — you can apply any time you qualify.
Other coverage worth knowing about
Short‑term plans
Sometimes available to bridge a genuine short gap. Understand clearly: these are not ACA plans. They can exclude pre‑existing conditions, cap benefits, and skip essential health benefits. Availability and duration limits vary by state and by federal rule. We'll only suggest one when it honestly beats the alternatives, and we'll spell out exactly what it doesn't cover.
Dental & vision
Adult dental and vision are generally not included in medical plans. Standalone policies cover cleanings, fillings, major work, exams, frames and lenses. See the supplemental page for how these fit alongside your medical coverage.
What we actually do for you here
We check whether your doctors are in‑network, whether your prescriptions are on the formulary, estimate your subsidy, and compare total expected annual cost — premium plus deductible plus expected care — instead of just the monthly number everyone fixates on.
Let's find out what actually fits your situation.
No cost. No pressure. A straight conversation about what you have, what you need, and what it really costs.