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Ohio Health Insurance Companies
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Ohio Health Insurance Resources
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How to Get the Most Savings
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Ohio Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Ohio
Ohio Health Insurance Companies
There are around 10 companies offering private health insurance in Ohio, meaning there is a large variety of plans at different price points to choose from. Here’s a look at some of the most popular companies in the state:
BridgeSpan
Bridgespan Health Insurance Company is new to the health insurance industry and was founded as a result of the Affordable Care Act. They offer an HSA-qualified plan, the Bridgespan Exchange HSA, as well as Gold, Silver, and Bronze non-HSA plans.
Their plans include a 24-hour nurse line for questions, healthcare case management for serious health conditions, and chronic condition management, among other things. BridgeSpan operates 258 hospitals and allows access to 49,500 doctors and specialists.
Regence
Regence is another reputable name in insurance in Ohio. This insurance company offers a variety of healthcare plans, including HMOs and PPOs. Customers enjoy a variety of benefits, including discounted programs and excellent customer service, as well as a specialized app.
AultCare
Young adults, students, self-employed individuals, early retirees, individuals, and families can all benefit from AultCare’s health plans. They offer a variety of plans, some of which include access to their Premier Select Network, Select, or Traditional Networks.
Premier Select plans give you access to four hospitals spread across Stark, Summit, and Wayne counties, along with access to the physicians associated with those hospitals. This is the least expensive network plan they offer.
The Select Network plan includes access to 7 hospitals in Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Carroll and Wayne counties. Plans that offer access to this network are more expensive than Premier Select plans but are less expensive than plans with access to the Traditional network.
AultCare’s Traditional Network plan is the most expensive plan but has access to 40 hospitals and 60,000 providers throughout the state.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Ohio
If you’re looking for health insurance in Ohio, a good place to start is the health insurance Marketplace. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Ohio who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Ohio’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP), or if you need health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, or to not offer short-term plans at all. Ohio’s guidelines allow for 364 days of coverage from a short-term plan. You cannot renew your plan, but you can purchase a new one after the initial one has expired.
Ohio Health Insurance Resources
You can find good health insurance by using the resources available to you. One resource is your employer: while employers in Ohio are not required to offer health insurance, many employers offer it to their employees as part of their benefit package. These plans are generally less expensive than individual plans because your company receives discounts for purchasing group policies.
The federally run Health Insurance Marketplace is also a fantastic resource. Ohio is one of the states that turned down funding to establish their own exchange, so you can head to the federal one to compare the plans that are available to you.
You can also use the Marketplace to see if you are eligible for a government-funded program. Medicare covers medical expenses for people over the age of 65 and adults with certain disabilities. Medicaid provides low-income families with affordable or, in many cases, free health insurance plans.
Another option is to work with an agent. An EZ agent can help you weigh all of your options, both on and off the Marketplace. They can ensure that your insurance covers all of your medical needs at an affordable price.
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How to Get the Most Savings
Ohio is one of the top ten most affordable states when it comes to healthcare, with only the 40th highest healthcare spending per capita of all 50 states. The average annual healthcare cost per person is $10,093 in your state, but there are steps you can take to lower the cost of your health insurance, and your healthcare in general.
Your health is the best place to start. Ohio has a 34.8% obesity rate, and if you’re among this group, you might be paying a lot more for health insurance, since insurance companies look at your body mass index (BMI) when determining your rates. Maintaining a healthy BMI allows you to obtain the most affordable health insurance rates.
Tobacco use is another factor that influences the cost of health insurance. Smokers can pay up to 50% more for health insurance than nonsmokers do, so quitting can make a big difference to your premium payments, and your health (and healthcare costs) in general.
But working with a trained agent is the quickest way to ensure you get the best deals. EZ’s professionals are experts at finding all the plans that are available to you and that fit your budget, as well as any local discounts you are eligible for. Working with an EZ agent could result in annual savings of hundreds of dollars. In addition, our services are completely free!
Ohio Health Insurance FAQS
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Does Ohio require you to have health insurance?
There is no state mandate requiring health insurance. The tax penalty associated with the ACA was lifted so there is no federal mandate, either.
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What is the cheapest health insurance in Ohio?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $342 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
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How much does health insurance cost in Ohio?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Ohio is $435, or $5,220 per year, with plans as low as $342 a month to as high as $1,200. But do not let these numbers scare you. More than half of uninsured people in Ohio qualify for a $0 Bronze plan and don’t even know it.
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Which insurers offer plans in Ohio?
The top 10 insurers in Ohio are AultCare Insurance Company, Buckeye Community Health Plan, CareSource, Community Insurance Company, Medical Health Insuring Corp. of Ohio, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Oscar Buckeye State Insurance Corporation, Oscar Insurance Corporation of Ohio, Paramount Insurance Company, and Summa Insurance Company.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Ohio
In Ohio, there are several options for enrolling in a health insurance plan. You can enroll at work through your employer’s group plan, if they offer one, which will most likely be cheaper than buying an individual plan. You can also purchase a plan from your chosen insurance company’s website or use the federal Marketplace.
Enrolling, regardless of which option you choose, can be time consuming and stressful, but EZ is here to help! We can walk you through the enrollment process and answer any questions you may have. We will review all of your options based on the information you provide, taking care to consider your medical and financial needs, as well as any subsidies you may be eligible for. We will compare all available plans and present you with options based on this information. We can make the whole process quick and simple, at no additional cost to you.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
