Georgia Woman Works Four Jobs to Afford Health Insurance After Federal Subsidies Expire
A Chatham County woman now works seven days a week at four part-time jobs after her health insurance premiums jumped from $45 to $330 monthly when federal subsidies expired.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA — Carry Smith yawns as she buckles her seatbelt in her 2002 Toyota Sequoia, preparing for another day at one of her four part-time jobs in Chatham County. The seven-day work schedule has become necessary to afford health insurance that jumped from $45.67 to $330.62 per month after federal subsidies expired.
Smith represents thousands of Georgians struggling with soaring healthcare costs after President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress allowed enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire on December 31, 2025. The subsidies, which began during the Covid pandemic, had made health insurance plans significantly more affordable for millions of Americans.
Insurance Costs Jump After Federal Support Ends
The expiration of enhanced subsidies has reshaped Georgia’s insurance market. Approximately 350,000 Georgians dropped their ACA plans as premiums soared, though roughly 950,000 residents remain enrolled through Georgia Access, the state-run exchange.
For Smith, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a car accident involving a deer two years ago, maintaining insurance coverage is essential. None of her part-time jobs provide health benefits, making the ACA marketplace her only viable option given her preexisting conditions.
“What it means to me is my lifeline,” Smith said about her health insurance coverage.
State Officials Defend Georgia’s Approach
Governor Brian Kemp’s administration points to the nearly one million Georgians still covered through Georgia Access as evidence of the state exchange’s success. Kemp led efforts to create the state-run platform and establish a reinsurance market designed to attract large health insurance companies to Georgia, which has some of the worst health care metrics in the nation.
“More people are covered today in Georgia than what was promised by the one-size-fits-none, bloated government approach Democrats have promoted in every election cycle,” said Carter Chapman, a spokesman for Governor Kemp.
The state’s reinsurance initiative has helped lower premiums for some policyholders, though the reductions fall short of the savings previously provided by enhanced federal subsidies.
National Impact Reflects in Georgia
The changes in Georgia mirror a national trend affecting ACA enrollment. Last year, approximately 24 million Americans enrolled in marketplace plans, including 1.3 million Georgians. However, enrollment levels have dropped significantly in 2026 following the subsidy expiration.
Smith’s situation illustrates the financial strain facing gig workers, small business owners and their employees who rely on marketplace coverage. Her monthly premium increase of nearly $285 represents the difference between affordable healthcare access and working multiple jobs to maintain essential medical care.
The policy changes have created particular challenges for individuals like Smith who require ongoing medical treatment following serious injuries. Without employer-sponsored health benefits, marketplace plans through Georgia Access remain their primary option for comprehensive coverage, despite the increased costs.
