Obamacare is going to cost Georgia’s Medicaid program $26.9 million this year and $101.7 million next year, even though the state has chosen not to expand eligibility, the state’s Medicaid director said Wednesday.

Much of the increase will come from the “woodwork effect,” an influx of Medicaid enrollees who will become aware of the joint federal-state program because of the public outreach efforts set to accompany implementation of the health-care reform law, Jerry Dubberly told members of a legislative study committee.

“People who may not have known they were eligible or not have known how to fill out the application will be more easily connected,” he said.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced last year Georgia would opt out of expanding Medicaid eligibility under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave states that option.

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