UnitedHealthcare leaves Georgia's exchange

Updated 2026-10-29

UnitedHealthcare is leaving Georgia Access for the 2027 plan year after state regulators challenged its requested premium increase of about 54%, according to reporting by Medical Daily. Members with affected Marketplace coverage will need to compare replacement plans for the new year.

The state insurance office described its objection to the proposed increase as the point preceding United’s decision to withdraw. UnitedHealthcare’s own statement did not address that dispute. The company said it would continue offering off-exchange individual and family coverage, employer-sponsored plans, and Medicare plans in Georgia. A Marketplace exit should therefore not be described as the company leaving every line of business in the state.

The reporting puts Georgia’s final average Marketplace rate increase at approximately 20.7% for 2027. That statewide average is different from a particular plan’s price change or the amount a household pays after any premium tax credit. Cigna is also departing the state’s Marketplace, adding another reason to check the final county-level lineup.

Georgia is not offering its usual advance window-shopping period this year, according to the state officials cited in the article. Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. A current member should confirm the selection deadline for a January 1 effective date rather than assume any enrollment during that entire window starts immediately.

Agent Takeaway: Identify affected United members and gather doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, ongoing treatments, and expected care before comparing alternatives. Review networks directly and ask how any existing prior authorizations or scheduled treatment would be handled after a switch.

For employees using a CHOICE Arrangement, review the employer allowance against the replacement plan’s premium and cost sharing. A fixed contribution does not guarantee that a departing carrier can be replaced at the same employee cost.

Keep on-exchange and off-exchange options distinct. They may differ in access to financial assistance, and a carrier’s continued off-exchange presence does not mean its current Georgia Access policy will renew.