Anthem drops coverage at Gainesville-based health system

It's early enrollment time for health insurance. And this year, that looks to be troubling for many in rural northeast Georgia. One of the state's largest insurers - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - sent a shock wave when it dropped the Northeast Georgia Health System after contentious negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

The dispute could be troublesome for those in the Gainesville, Winder and Dahlonega areas.

Andy Miller with Georgia Health News tells CBS 46 that longtime NGHS patients who want to keep their doctors may be forced to pay more for other insurance or accept someone else in Anthem's network.

Northeast Georgia Health serves about one million people in 19 counties with four hospitals and a number of urgent care facilities.