Recently a state advisory committee, in its final report, recommended that Georgia create a health insurance exchange for small businesses.

But the panel stopped short of recommending a similar exchange for individual consumers in Georgia.

That was a missed opportunity, says Cindy Zeldin, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future.

In a new GHN Commentary, Zeldin writes that in the current individual health insurance market in Georgia, “it’s difficult to know what is covered and what is not.

“Pre-existing conditions are grounds for coverage denial. There are no economies of scale in purchasing. There is no employer contribution. And the income you use to purchase health insurance is taxed. Consumers report great difficulty finding and keeping affordable health insurance if it isn’t offered through the workplace.”

The Georgia Legislature should take the initiative and create an exchange for individuals, Zeldin writes. Here’s a link to her Commentary piece.

Georgia Health News welcomes Commentary submissions. If you would like to propose a Commentary piece for Georgia Health News, please e-mail Andy Miller, editor of GHN, at amiller@georgiahealthnews.com