Gov. Kemp Unveils Plan To Overhaul Georgia’s Health Insurance Market

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan does not affect the current ACA sign-up season for 2020 plans, which starts Friday.

Stephen Morton / Georgia Port Authority via AP/file

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled a much-anticipated plan Thursday that aims to reduce premiums for residents who buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and could eventually provide subsidies for cheaper coverage that doesn’t have to include all of the benefits required by the health law.

The plan does not address Medicaid coverage. The Kemp administration is expected to release its plans for Medicaid next week.

The ACA proposal calls for the state and federal government to pay a portion of insurance companies’ costs to treat their sickest patients, a relatively small group that incurs the biggest bills. The so-called reinsurance program would allow the companies to lower monthly premiums for all customers.