Best and cheapest health insurance plans in Ohio
Aetna will leave the Ohio health marketplace at the end of this year.
If you have coverage through Aetna, you'll have to buy a new plan through a different company during Ohio's next open enrollment period (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15).
Those in need of coverage should consider a plan from Anthem. The company offers affordable coverage and quality service. Molina is a good choice for cheap rates.
Cheapest health insurance companies in Ohio
Molina, Ambetter, MedMutual and Oscar are the cheapest health insurance companies in Ohio, with Silver plans starting at $402 per month before discounts.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Ohio
Affordable health insurance plans in Ohio
- Molina has the cheapest health insurance quotes for most of Ohio, but it's not the cheapest everywhere because rates vary by county. Depending on where you live, Ambetter or Oscar may have the cheapest rates.
- Most people in Ohio don't have to pay full price for medical insurance because of discounts called subsidies. How much you save is based on your income. Subsidies are the best way to get affordable individual health insurance if you earn too much to qualify for Medicaid or if you're self-employed. Find out how much you'll pay by using the subsidy calculator.
- You can also save by choosing a Bronze plan, which is about $100 per month cheaper than a Silver plan, on average. The tradeoff is you'll pay more for your medical care when you have a Bronze plan so it's usually the best level of coverage if you're healthy and have savings to cover medical bills.
Best health insurance companies in Ohio
Anthem has the best medical insurance plans in Ohio for individuals and families.
Anthem has the best customer service among Ohio health insurance companies because of its excellent 5 out of 5 membership experience rating from HealthCare.gov. This means Anthem customers consistently rate it highly for the quality of service and care they get from their doctors.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Ohio
Best-rated health insurance companies in Ohio
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Anthem | 3.0 | |
| AultCare Insurance Company | 4.0 | |
| UnitedHealthcare | NA | |
| SummaCare | 5.0 | |
| Molina Healthcare | 3.0 |
Anthem is the most popular health insurance company in Ohio, and many doctors will accept it. Anthem's plans also offer a balance of affordable quotes and high quality coverage. Plus coverage extras, such as common prescriptions for free, include free virtual care and cover doctors and specialists visits before you meet the deductible are often included.
AultCare Insurance is the only company in Ohio that offers PPO plans which give you some coverage for any doctor in the country. These plans can be the best choice if you have chronic health conditions or if you travel often.
UnitedHealthcare: Best health insurance company for cheap medical care
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plans have great medical coverage in Ohio, with individual plans that will start helping you pay for medical care much earlier than other companies.
- UHC's Silver plans have an average deductible of $2,500 which is about half of a typical plan.
- The downside is that UnitedHealthcare is expensive, with its cheapest Silver plan costing $481 per month.
SummaCare: Best health plans in the Akron area
SummaCare is one of the top health insurance companies in the country, earning a perfect score of five stars from HealthCare.gov. But plans are only available in Akron and nearby counties.
SummaCare's individual plans give you high quality medical care, have great customer satisfaction, and often include extras such as vision care and wellness programs.
The downside is that you'll have a smaller network of doctors and hospitals where you can use your plan, unless it's an emergency.
How much does health insurance cost in Ohio?
The average cost of a health insurance plan in Ohio is $536 per month if you pay full price or $81 per month if you qualify for discounts.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Ohio
Health insurance quotes can vary widely based on factors such as how old you are and how much of your medical care the plan covers.
- Seniors pay more than younger people for individual health insurance. Health insurance quotes become more expensive as you age because you're more likely to need ongoing medical care. In Ohio, a 60-year-old pays more than twice as much for a plan than a 40-year-old.
- If you have a lower income, you'll pay less for health insurance. That's because subsidies can lower your monthly bill. You're eligible for discounts if you earn less than $60,240 as a single person or less than $124,800 as a family of four.
Get affordable medical insurance quotes in Ohio by using subsidies
Many people can qualify for discounted rates by using health insurance subsidies to lower the cost of your health insurance based on your income.
In Ohio, the average cost of a medical insurance plan after subsidies is $81 per month.
How much you'll pay is based on your income. The lower your income, the more you'll save, and 43% of Ohio shoppers pay less than $10 per month after discounts.
Subsidies can be applied to a Bronze, Silver or Gold plan from any company.
Cheap Ohio health insurance plans by city
Molina has the cheapest Silver plan in Ohio. And it's the cheapest in several of the state's biggest cities, including Cleveland and Toledo.
But plan options and rates change based on where you live. If you live in Columbus, the cheapest Silver plan is Silver Simple PCP Saver (Select) from Oscar.
Cheapest health insurance by OH county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | Ambetter Clear Silver | $412 |
| Allen | Molina Silver 12 | $440 |
| Ashland | Ambetter Clear Silver | $414 |
| Ashtabula | Molina Silver 12 | $402 |
| Athens | Molina Silver 12 | $516 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Ohio
Best health insurance plan by level of coverage
The best health insurance for you depends on how much medical care you expect to need and if you have an income that qualifies you for special programs.
Silver plans are a good choice for most people because they balance coverage and affordable quotes.
Gold plans: Best if you need expensive or ongoing medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans cost an average of $673 per month in Ohio.
Gold plans give you the highest level of coverage, which means you pay less for your medical care. They also have the lowest cap on your medical costs, called the out-of-pocket maximum.
However, the high monthly cost is worth it if you go to the doctor often, need expensive prescriptions or have a complex medical condition.
Silver plans: Best if you have average medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans cost an average of $536 per month.
Silver plans are the best for most people since they give you good coverage at a moderate price.
You'll likely have to pay more before your benefits kick in than you would with a Gold plan. That's because Silver plans usually have higher health insurance deductibles. But if you have typical medical care needs, the lower monthly rate can offset the higher deductible.
Bronze and Catastrophic plans: Best if you're young and healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans cost $432 per month and Catastrophic plans cost $313 per month, on average, in Ohio.
Bronze and Catastrophic plans have the cheapest quotes but the highest deductibles, coinsurance and copays. That means you have to pay more when you get medical care.
These plans are good if you only see the doctor once in a while and have savings for an emergency. If something serious happens, like surgery or a hospital stay, you'll have to pay several thousand dollars for your medical care, before insurance starts paying for your medical care.
You can only buy a Catastrophic plan if you are under 30 or meet other requirements. And Catastrophic plans don't qualify for Obamacare tax credits, also called subsidies, so you won't be able to lower your monthly rate based on your income.
Cheap or free health insurance plans in Ohio for those with low incomes
Medicaid and Cost-Sharing Reductions are two programs that can help make medical care more affordable when you have a low income.
Medicaid: Free health insurance if you have a low income
Ohio Medicaid is usually free, and it pays for nearly all your medical care.
To qualify for Ohio Medicaid, you can earn up to about $21,000 as an individual or $44,000 as a family of four. You might be able to qualify with a higher income if you are pregnant, are under age 19 or have breast or cervical cancer.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
Silver plans are the best health insurance plan if you earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. That's because you can get very cheap medical care through cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).
To qualify, you have to make less than about $37,650 per year as a single person or $78,000 per year as a family of four. You can combine cost-sharing reductions with subsidies to get both low monthly rates and cheap health care.
Are health insurance rates going up in OH in 2025?
Ohio medical insurance costs an average of 3% more in 2025 than it did in 2024.
The cost of Bronze and Silver plans, which are the most popular coverage levels, have stayed about the same or gone down.
However, the cost of Gold plans increased by 12%, which is an extra $70 per month. Gold plans have the best coverage available in Ohio and are a good choice for those who have chronic illnesses or who need surgery.
Health insurance in Ohio is projected to get more expensive across all plan tiers in 2026.
Catastrophic
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $289 | |
| 2023 | $296 | 2% |
| 2024 | $314 | 6% |
| 2025 | $313 | 0% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Catastrophic
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $289 | |
| 2023 | $296 | 2% |
| 2024 | $314 | 6% |
| 2025 | $313 | 0% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $392 | |
| 2023 | $418 | 7% |
| 2024 | $440 | 5% |
| 2025 | $432 | -2% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $490 | |
| 2023 | $513 | 5% |
| 2024 | $535 | 4% |
| 2025 | $536 | 0% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $599 | |
| 2023 | $601 | 0% |
| 2024 | $603 | 0% |
| 2025 | $673 | 12% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in OH in 2025?
Ohio health insurance companies would like to increase prices by around 18% between 2025 and 2026.
That's roughly in line with the 20% projected rise in health insurance rates nationwide. Higher healthcare costs and expiring federal tax credits are two of the largest reasons for this rapid run-up in prices.
Other factors driving more expensive medical insurance include:
- Greater use of weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic
- Higher labor costs
- Increasing medication prices
- General inflation
How to save on Ohio medical insurance in 2026
- Find the cheapest quotes in your area by shopping around. You could save $480 per month by switching from the most expensive Silver health plan in Ohio to the cheapest.
- Consider a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) if you're in good health and you can comfortably afford to pay your deductible from your savings. Getting an HDHP also means you can open a health savings account, which lets you save money on your taxes.
- Check to see if your income allows you to get free government health insurance, called Medicaid.
10 essential benefits all Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans come with
All Obamacare health insurance plans give you important benefits.
- Give you free preventive care (even if you haven't met the deductible)
- Help you avoid large medical debt if you have a major illness or injury
- Don't charge you a higher rate if you have a health condition
Average cost of health insurance plans by family size in Ohio
The more people you have on your health insurance plan, the more you'll pay each month. An individual in Ohio pays an average of $536 per month for medical insurance, and a family of four pays an average of $1,714 per month.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $536 |
| Individual + Child | $857 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,072 |
| Family of three | $1,393 |
| Family of four | $1,714 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children who are under age 15.
Health insurance for children under 15 costs an average of $321 per month. Insurance plans have one rate for children under 15. But at age 15, rates start to increase each year as they age.
Short-term health insurance plans in Ohio
Earlier this year, the new administration rolled back a Biden-era rule that limited short-term plans to three months. No timeline has been announced for when this change will happen. But, companies may begin sometime in 2025 selling short-term health insurance in Ohio for up to 364 days .
Short-term medical insurance can be a helpful option if you need a plan for a few months, such as if you're between jobs. Otherwise, it might make more sense to buy a regular health insurance plan from HealthCare.gov. With a regular plan, you'll usually get better coverage and can get subsidies because of your income to make plans affordable.
Pros of short-term health insurance plans in OH
Cons of short-term health insurance plans in OH
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cheap health insurance in Ohio?
Anthem is the best cheap health insurance company in Ohio. Anthem gives you access to a wide selection of doctors, includes great coverage, and has high customer satisfaction. The cheapest Anthem plan in Ohio costs $450 per month if you pay full price. That's $48 more than Molina, which has the absolute most affordable rates in the state, starting at $402 per month.
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in Ohio?
No, $200 per month is not expensive for health insurance in Ohio. The average cost of a Silver health plan in Ohio is $536 per month before discounts.
What is the average cost of health insurance in Ohio?
Health insurance costs an average of $536 per month in Ohio for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. While average rates can be helpful, your rate will likely be different. Rates are based on your age, where you live, the amount of coverage you need, the size of your household, and the health insurance company you choose.
How do I get health insurance in Ohio?
The best way to get health insurance in Ohio is to apply through the federal health insurance exchange at HealthCare.gov. After you create an account, you can search for affordable plans in your area using your ZIP code. Use the filter feature to find the plans that fit your needs, like coverage for any prescription medication you take.
Methodology
Health insurance rates and plan information for 2025 were compiled from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website. ValuePenguin used the public use files (PUFs) to calculate averages by plan tier, age, family size and county to understand the health insurance marketplace within Ohio.
Short-term health insurance information is for companies with the largest market share in the state, according to S&P Global Capital IQ. Customer satisfaction and complaints is based on the complaint index from NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
