Georgia Health Commission Silent as Federal Spending Cuts Loom, Insurance Premiums Poised to Soar
ATLANTA, GA – Despite critically important federal spending cuts that threaten Georgia’s healthcare landscape, teh state’s Health Policy and Planning Commission has not convened this year, raising concerns among healthcare advocates. The commission’s recent report, while highlighting issues such as Medicaid access for low-income children, the need to bolster the healthcare workforce, and improving health insurance access, notably omits the potential impact of H.R. 1, a new federal law that will reduce funding for safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps by over $600 billion over the next decade.
Dr. Harry Heiman, a member of the commission, expressed his dismay, stating, “I take my role in the commission seriously and I believe that our work can protect lives….But it’s preposterous to publish a report on behalf of a commission that hasn’t met.”
The report does, however, address a critical threat to Georgia’s health insurance marketplace, which serves 1.5 million residents.Federal subsidies that have made marketplace health insurance plans affordable are set to expire on December 31st, with no indication from Congress of an extension. This expiration is projected to cause substantial increases in health insurance premiums for Georgians in 2026, potentially leading to a rise in the state’s uninsured population.
“The expiration of these tax credits would likely have a significant impact on Georgians and healthcare providers, as many individuals would lose or opt out of coverage and move into an uninsured category,” the report states.
Preliminary analyses from health insurance companies, factoring in the absence of these subsidies, suggest that premiums in Georgia could increase by as much as 75% in 2026, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This situation underscores the vulnerability of a significant portion of the state’s population to changes in federal healthcare policy.
