ATLANTA (AP) — State Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens has signed an order allowing insurance companies to begin selling individual policies for children next year.

Hudgens says people who are uninsured or whose employers do not offer coverage to dependents will be eligible to purchase the children's insurance policies.

He says legal guardians may also purchase the policies if they are insured by Medicare.

The open enrollment period runs from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31. Coverage for the plan is slated to begin March 1.