Cheapest Health Insurance in Ohio (2026)

Key Takeaways

The most affordable health insurance options in Ohio are Summacare at $579 monthly, followed by Ambetter at $632 and Molina Healthcare at $637.

Summacare provides the most affordable health insurance across multiple demographics in Ohio, including adults, young adults, children, seniors and teens, as well as HMO plans at $579 monthly.

Ohio's marketplace offers only HMO plans. There are no PPO or Platinum-tier options. Every plan requires in-network care, so your primary care doctor and any specialist you use regularly must be in the same carrier network before you enroll.

In our analysis of Ohio's 10 carriers, Summacare costs $112 below Ohio's state average and has the lowest rates across all age groups in Ohio except for HSA-eligible plans. Buyers in Columbus, Cincinnati or Dayton and enrollees managing a condition requiring regular specialist access should compare Ambetter at $632 monthly and Molina Healthcare at $637 monthly before deciding on premium alone.

Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in Ohio

Summacare is the most affordable, at $579 monthly, but its network is concentrated in northeast Ohio. It leads on Bronze and Silver, though Ambetter wins Gold and Antidote wins Expanded Bronze. But Summacare's lower premiums come with higher deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs. Ambetter at $632 monthly and Molina Healthcare at $637 monthly both carry lower out-of-pocket exposure on several plans.


Summacare	$579	$112	$6,948	$1,344
Ambetter	$632	$59	$7,584	$708
Molina Healthcare	$637	$54	$7,644	$648
Antidote Health Plan Of Ohio, Inc.	$648	$43	$7,776	$516
Oscar	$685	$6	$8,220	$72
Anthem	$685	$6	$8,220	$72
Medmutual	$730	$39	$8,760	$468
UnitedHealthcare	$730	$39	$8,760	$468
Paramount	$767	$76	$9,204	$912
Caresource	$807	$116	$9,684	$1,392

* We determine average monthly costs by rounding the mean of all monthly plan rates for each provider in Ohio. We calculate average monthly savings by comparing each provider's average rate against the statewide average to demonstrate the cost difference below the state benchmark.

SummaCare

MoneyGeek Rating

4.4/ 5

5/5Affordability

3.9/5Deductible

3.3/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$579
Average MOOP
$6634
Average Deductible
$3825

pros
- Ranks first in Ohio for overall value and affordability
- Covers preventive services including annual checkups at no additional cost
cons
- Requires a primary care referral before specialist visits, with authorization needed for certain services
Summacare earns a perfect 5 affordability score in our Ohio analysis, with an average monthly rate of $579. Bronze HMO coverage starts at $259 monthly. For 60-year-olds, Gold HMO plans reach $2,012 monthly. Across every age group and metal tier we reviewed, its rates came in below the Ohio marketplace average.

For northeast Ohio buyers who use care infrequently, Summacare is where to start the comparison. Its price leadership across every category is the widest, its pricing holds precisely because it's built for a specific geographic lane.
Buyers outside northeast Ohio should check Summacare's network before enrolling. Its provider base is concentrated in that region and coverage gaps are more common in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. Out-of-network care isn't covered under any Ohio HMO plan. For buyers in those markets, compare Ambetter at $632 monthly or Molina Healthcare at $637 monthly before committing to Summacare.

If you are managing a chronic condition or expecting regular specialist visits, you should compare Ambetter's Gold plans. At $615 monthly with a $1,163 deductible, it costs $828 more per year than Summacare's Silver but removes $1,898 from your deductible exposure. Two specialist visits or a single procedure often closes that gap.

Most Affordable Ohio Health Insurance by Metal Level

Summacare's Silver average is $546 monthly with a $3,061 deductible. Ambetter's Gold average is $615 monthly with a $1,163 deductible. That's $69 more per month for Gold, but $1,898 less in deductible exposure. A 40-year-old who expects one major medical bill in a year saves $1,070 on net: $1,898 less in deductible exposure minus $828 in additional annual premiums.

Only Silver plans qualify for Cost-sharing reductions (CSR) lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Bronze and Gold don't. Households earning 100% to 250% of the federal poverty level can access Silver plans with lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.


Bronze	Summacare	$433	$5,193	$7,950	$6,000
Expanded Bronze	Antidote Health Plan Of Ohio, Inc.	$442	$5,299	$7,860	$6,135
Silver	Summacare	$546	$6,553	$5,685	$3,061
Gold	Ambetter	$615	$7,375	$6,213	$1,163

Cheap Ohio Health Insurance: Personalized Picks

The cheapest Ohio health plan for a 40-year-old on a Silver HMO starts at $526 monthly. Use the filter below to adjust for your age, metal tier and plan type.

Data filtered by:


Oscar	Silver Classic Standard	$526	HMO	Silver	$5,657	$3,100	40	No
Oscar	Silver Simple Pcp Saver	$527	HMO	Silver	$6,161	$3,400	40	No
Oscar	Silver Simple Diabetes	$527	HMO	Silver	$6,143	$3,557	40	No
Oscar	Silver Simple Breathe Easy With Enhanced Copd Benefits	$528	HMO	Silver	$5,957	$3,571	40	No
Oscar	Silver Simple Chronic Care Ckm	$533	HMO	Silver	$6,200	$3,429	40	No
Antidote Health Plan Of Ohio, Inc.	Silver Complete 4 $0 Tier-1 Pcp Visits, $0 Antidote 24/7 Virtual Pcp/Urg/Chronic Care, $0 Core Rx	$533	HMO	Silver	$6,393	$4,400	40	No
Oscar	Silver Elite Saver Plus	$534	HMO	Silver	$6,007	No Data	40	No
Oscar	Silver Simple Women'S Health With Menopause Benefits	$537	HMO	Silver	$6,221	$3,517	40	No
Summacare	Summacare Silver 5000 1000 Rx With 3 Free Pcp Visits	$539	HMO	Silver	$5,564	No Data	40	No
Summacare	Summacare Silver 7000 With 3 Free Pcp Visits	$540	HMO	Silver	$5,493	$3,719	40	No

Oscar's Silver Classic Standard at $526 monthly carries a $3,100 deductible. Summacare's Silver 7000 With 3 Free PCP Visits at $540 carries a $3,719 deductible, $619 more in exposure. Oscar has the lower deductible at the Silver level despite its lower price. The three free PCP visits in Summacare's plan offset part of that gap for primary care users.

Oscar ranks fifth overall at $685 monthly average across all plan types. It leads the Silver tier at $526 because its overall average includes higher Gold-tier and older-adult pricing.

How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in Ohio

Six decisions affect what you pay for Ohio health insurance: plan tier, carrier network, subsidy eligibility, enrollment timing, referral requirements and provider verification.

1
Look Beyond the Cheapest Plans
Ohio's cheapest Bronze plan (Summacare, $433 monthly for a 40-year-old) carries a $6,000 average deductible. If you visit a doctor three times a year or fill regular prescriptions, your total annual cost can exceed what you'd pay under a Silver plan with lower cost-sharing. Check your expected usage against each plan's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum before assuming the lowest premium means the lowest cost.
2
Review Your Health Care Spending
Review your full expected annual spend before choosing a tier. One moderate medical event often costs more than the $1,070 net difference between Silver and Gold coverage. If you expect a doctor visit, specialist appointment or prescription fill more than twice a year, Gold is worth the higher premium.
3
Consider HMO Options
Every Ohio plan is an HMO that requires a referral for specialist visits. Summacare requires authorization for certain specialist services and other Ohio carriers have similar requirements. Getting care without a proper referral can mean paying full out-of-pocket rates rather than copay rates.
4
Verify Subsidy Eligibility
Premium tax credits are available in 2026 for households earning below 400% of the federal poverty level. For a single adult, that threshold is approximately $63,840 annually in 2026. Households above that figure lost subsidy eligibility when enhanced ARP credits expired at the end of 2025.

Check your eligibility at HealthCare.gov before comparing full-price rates. Enhanced federal subsidies that kept premiums low from 2021 through 2025 expired at the end of 2025. Ohio buyers who qualified for large credits last year may pay more in 2026.
5
Time Your Purchase Right
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage is from November 1 through December 15, 2026. Plans selected by December 15 take effect January 1, 2027. This window is shorter than previous years because of a federal rule change that took effect for 2027 enrollment. Outside that window, you can only enroll after a qualifying life event: job loss, marriage, having a child or moving to a new coverage area.
6
Compare Provider Networks
Call your doctor's office to confirm they accept the specific plan you're considering, not just the carrier. Being in-network for one Ambetter plan doesn't mean you're covered under another. Switching plans isn't permitted outside qualifying life events, so a network mistake at enrollment can mean out-of-pocket costs all year.

Cheapest Health Insurance in Ohio: Bottom Line

Ohio's HMO-only marketplace.Summacare has the lowest average rate in Ohio at $579 monthly, but which plan saves you more depends on how often you use care. Healthy adults who rarely file claims get the most value from its Bronze or Silver HMO plans.

Regular medical visits or a chronic condition shifts the calculation. Compare Ambetter's and Molina Healthcare's Gold-tier deductibles against Summacare's before buying on premium alone.

Ohio's marketplace has no Platinum plans and no PPO options, which limits flexibility compared to some states. Confirm your doctors are covered before you enroll. If Summacare's network covers your doctors, that structure works in your favor. If it doesn't, compare Ambetter and Molina Healthcare before enrolling.

Affordable Health Insurance in Ohio: FAQ

Find answers to the most common health insurance questions for Ohio residents:

During open enrollment, compare plans across multiple metal tiers from companies such as Summacare, Ambetter and Molina Healthcare. Every plan on Ohio's marketplace is an HMO, so compare premiums, deductibles and networks across all available carriers. Check whether you qualify for premium tax credits through HealthCare.gov before comparing base premiums.

In Ohio, health insurance averages $697 monthly or $8,367 annually across all plan types and metal levels. Monthly premiums range from $232 to $2,127 varying by age, chosen coverage tier and plan type.

Ohio doesn't require residents to carry health insurance. Though going without coverage leaves you vulnerable to medical expenses, you'll miss the annual Open Enrollment Period to get marketplace plans with potential premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

Bronze plans charge lower monthly premiums, with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. In Ohio, Summacare's Bronze plans average $433 monthly with a $6,000 deductible. Its Silver plans average $546 monthly with a $3,061 deductible. If you expect more than one or two medical expenses in a year, the Silver plan's lower deductible often saves more than the $113 monthly premium difference costs.

Yes. Premium tax credits through HealthCare.gov reduce monthly costs for households earning up to four times the federal poverty level. Subsidies are based on household income and family size and apply to plans purchased through the federal marketplace. Check your eligibility at HealthCare.gov before comparing full-price rates, as the after-credit premium is the figure that matters for your budget.

Summacare is a regional carrier based in Ohio with a provider network concentrated in northeast Ohio. Its availability and network coverage vary by ZIP code. Buyers outside northeast Ohio should verify that their preferred doctors and hospitals participate in Summacare's network before selecting a plan, as coverage gaps are more common in areas outside its primary service region.

Our Methodology

We gathered plan data from the federal health insurance marketplace for Ohio, collecting rates across 10 carriers and all available metal levels for consumer profiles at ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Our cheapest overall rankings use 40-year-old monthly premiums as the primary benchmark because this age group represents the broadest comparable demographic across states.

Age-specific rankings reflect each profile's own premium costs. We included average deductible and maximum out-of-pocket figures alongside monthly rates because the lowest premium doesn't always produce the lowest annual cost.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Read Full Bio »

Sources

HealthCare.gov. "Welcome to the Health Insurance Marketplace." Accessed July 17, 2026.

Cheapest Health Insurance in Ohio (2026)

Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in Ohio

SummaCare

Most Affordable Ohio Health Insurance by Metal Level

Cheap Ohio Health Insurance: Personalized Picks

How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in Ohio

Cheapest Health Insurance in Ohio: Bottom Line

Affordable Health Insurance in Ohio: FAQ

How do I get cheap health insurance in Ohio?

How much does health insurance cost in Ohio?

Does Ohio require health insurance?

What is the difference between Bronze and Silver health insurance plans in Ohio?

Can I get subsidized health insurance in Ohio?

Is Summacare available across all of Ohio?

Our Methodology

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Sources