From Kelly Montgomery,
Your Guide to Health Insurance.
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Georgia Department of Insurance

The Georgia Department of Insurance is responsible for regulating all types of insurance sold in the Georgia - including health insurance policies.

If you are looking for health insurance coverage, they have lists of insurance agents and insurance companies licensed to do business in Georgia. Go here to find out if your insurance company is licensed to do business in Georgia. You can also check for licensed agents here.

If you are having trouble resolving a claims dispute with your insurer, you can file a complaint with the Department of Insurance. They have an online consumer complaint interface here.

Georgia Department of Insurance
Two Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
West Tower, Suite 704
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: 404.656.2070 OR 800.656.2298
Fax: 404.657.8542
http://www.gainsurance.org/home.aspx

U.S. Department of Labor

If you get your insurance through your job, your plan is also regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). They make and enforce the rules that your employer must follow when offering health insurance coverage to employees - for example, your employer cannot single out an individual employee to exclude her from the plan because she (or one of her dependents) has a costly illness. Also, if there are 20 or more employees at your job, you should be offered COBRA continuation coverage when you leave your job. The EBSA works to make sure that all of this happens and your rights are protected.

If you have concerns about your employer's practices in administering your job-based health coverage - for example, if you think you should have been offered COBRA continuation coverage, but were not, or if you feel that you were wrongly terminated from your health plan - contact your regional EBSA office.

U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration
Atlanta Regional Office (Northern Georgia)
61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 7B54
Atlanta, GA 30303
Howard Marsh - Director
Tel 404.562.2156
Fax 404.562.2168
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/

Buying Individual Policies in Georgia

As a general rule, insurers in Georgia are allowed to reject your application for coverage based on your health status. There are several exceptions to this general rule:

• If you have had at least 6 months of coverage under a group plan, you may be eligible to buy a conversion policy. This will convert your group plan into an individual policy.
• If you had at least 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, the last day of which was under a group plan AND you have exhausted all COBRA continuation coverage which was available to you, you may qualify as a HIPAA-eligible individual. People who are HIPAA-eligible are guaranteed the right to buy an individual health policy.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible to buy an individual policy or a conversion policy, your insurance agent or the Department of Insurance can help you find out.

PeachCare for Kids - the state Children's Health Insurance Program

PeachCare for Kids provides health insurance coverage for children under age 19 whose family meets certain income guidelines.

PeachCare for Kids
Phone: 1.877.GA.PEACH
https://www.peachcare.org/Index.aspx

Georgia Cares

The Georgia Cares program provides free one-on-one counseling for Medicare beneficiaries with questions about any aspect of Medicare, including the new Part D prescription drug benefit, or Medigap coverage.

Georgia Cares
Phone: 1.800.669.8387
http://www.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,4802_5007_11796271,00.html

Georgia Medicaid

Medicaid is a government program designed to help the poor and indigent obtain health care services. Pregnant women and children under age 19 who meet certain income requirements may be eligible for Medicaid coverage, along with aged, blind, and disabled individuals. For more information about eligibility, contact the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Georgia Medicaid
2 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404.651.8681
http://dch.georgia.gov/02/dch/home/0,2467,31446711,00.html