Best Cheap Health Insurance in Georgia (2023)

The cheapest Silver health insurance policy in Georgia for 2023 is Aetna's Silver 2 plan, which is available in 7% of Georgia's counties. The cheapest Silver health insurance policy in 73% of Georgia's counties is the Ambetter Clear Silver plan. Depending on the county in which you live, there may be limited options for health insurance plans.

The state exchange provides access to cheap health insurance plans in Georgia, or you may qualify for Medicaid depending on your household income. To help you get started in your search for your best health plan, we studied all policies on the Georgia state exchange.

Cheapest health insurance in Georgia by plan tier

In addition to your chosen tier of coverage, your age is one of the biggest factors in determining health insurance prices. For instance, a 40-year-old would pay 28% more per month, on average, for the same health insurance plan, than a 21-year-old in Georgia. This translates to an extra $103 per month for a Silver health plan, or an extra $124 per month for a Platinum health insurance policy.

We compared all health plans on the Georgia marketplace and identified those with the cheapest rates in each plan tier to help you determine the best policy for a given level of coverage. None of the insurers on the Georgia health insurance exchange are available in every county, so you may not have the option to choose from the policies listed below. But we recommend using them as a comparison point when reviewing the benefits, out-of-pocket costs and monthly rates of health plans.

Cheapest health insurance rates in GA

The cost of health insurance varies greatly depending on the tier of coverage you choose. The cheapest Bronze policy is 20% cheaper in Georgia than a Silver policy, while the cheapest Gold policy is only 9% more than the cheapest Silver policy.

Finding your best health insurance coverage in Georgia

The best health insurance in Georgia for you will vary depending on where you live since this determines the availability of insurers and policies. While the number of insurers available in a county varies, not all tiers of coverage are available in each county either. Catastrophic and Platinum health insurance plans may not be an option in your area.

Higher metal tier policies, such as Gold and Platinum health plans, are typically the best choice if you expect to have high or consistent medical expenses throughout the year. Though these health insurance plans have more expensive monthly rates, their out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles and copays, are often much lower. So if you need to use your health insurance, you'll have to pay less yourself before your policy provides coverage.

In contrast, Bronze and Catastrophic health insurance policies often have the cheapest premiums but the highest cost-sharing features. For young, healthy shoppers who don't expect to use their medical coverage throughout the year, these policies may offer the lowest cost. But we only recommend them if you can cover the out-of-pocket costs following an emergency. Also, keep in mind that Catastrophic plans are not eligible for premium tax credits.

Silver health plans are a good middle ground if you expect to have moderate health care expenses, as they balance affordable rates and cost sharing. Silver policies are also likely to be the best cheap coverage if you have a low-income household, as these health plans qualify for cost-sharing subsidies.

Short-term health insurance in Georgia

You can buy short-term health insurance in Georgia. The state follows federal regulations for these types of policies, meaning the plans have a maximum length of one year and can be renewed for up to 36 months. Short-term health insurance can be a good option if you missed open enrollment or are currently between jobs.

The federal regulations for short-term health insurance also do not require short-term health insurance plans to cover the essential health benefits. For this reason, if you know you will require certain services, like maternity care, you should carefully consider your options before buying short-term health insurance.

Best cheap health insurance companies in Georgia

There are nine health insurance companies on the Georgia state exchange — but in many parts of the state, you still won't be able to choose among insurers.

However, Ambetter has the cheapest Silver plans in 82% (or 130) of the state's counties. After Ambetter, Aetna and Alliant Health Plans offer the most affordable Silver plans in the most counties, each in 11 of Georgia's 159 counties.

Cheapest health insurance plans by county

The county you live in will determine which insurers and health plans are available to you on the Georgia marketplace, as well as your cost of coverage. For instance, the Ambetter Clear Silver plan costs $394 per month in Lincoln County and is the most affordable Silver plan in that region. Meanwhile, the best-priced Silver plan in Carroll County costs $410 per month — the SoloCare Silver No Referral HMO (3 Free PCP Visits + $225 Specialty Drug Copay).

To help you find the best health insurance policy, we studied all plans on the exchange and identified the cheapest Silver plan in each county.

Cheapest Silver plans in GA by county

Average cost of health insurance by family size in Georgia

If you're buying a health insurance policy to cover your family, each person covered by the plan will increase the cost of coverage based upon their age, though children are priced at a flat rate until they reach age 15. So, for instance, a 40-year-old couple in Georgia with two children would pay $567 more per month for a Silver health plan that covers their family of four than they would pay to cover just themselves. This is because each child costs an average of $284 to add to a Silver health insurance policy.

Average cost of a Silver plan in GA by family size

Health insurance rate changes in Georgia

Health plan premiums are set by individual health companies. Once an insurer has decided on rates for the upcoming year, these are sent to the Georgia health insurance exchange for approval.

In Georgia, the average cost of a Silver health plan is 20% more expensive for 2023 than for 2022. The cost of Platinum policies increased the least from 2022 to 2023, by 13%, or $65 per month. Bronze health insurance plans saw the largest increase in pricing — rates are 33% higher for 2023, or $101 more per month for the average 40-year-old.

Average monthly cost of health insurance in GA

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

The rates and terms for health insurance plans referenced in this analysis were sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website. ValuePenguin found the average cost of a policy by plan tier, age, family size and region by referencing data from the CMS public use files (PUFs).