Updated: September 9, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Best Health InsuranceOhioBest Health Insurance in Ohio
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Ohio directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Ambetter has a MoneyGeek score of 68, making it the top provider of the best health insurance in Ohio. This provider's plans are relatively affordable, and its out-of-pocket costs are low. It's also better than average at managing claims, as evidenced by its low claims denial rate.
In Ohio, we looked at 65 Silver Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and 11 Silver Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans to determine the best health insurance.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan selections
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Ohio is Ambetter. The provider offers eight Silver HMO plans with an average monthly rate of $487. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $5,400. Ambetter features a denial rate of about 15%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Ambetter's Silver HMO plans offer coverage within a selected network of doctors and hospitals. These plans typically require members to choose a primary care physician and get referrals to see specialists.
Plan Recommendation
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans from Ambetter:
AultCare has the best health insurance in Ohio for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 64 out of 100. The provider offers affordable plan options and low out-of-pocket costs.
MoneyGeek analyzed health plans in Ohio and checked out 42 Gold HMO, eight Gold PPO and four Platinum PPO plans for this study.
Lower out-of-pocket costs
Wide variety of plan options
Average claim denial rate
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Ohio for low out-of-pocket costs is AultCare. It offers eight Gold PPO plans and four Platinum PPO plans. PPO plans tend to have more out-of-network coverage. AultCare has a claims denial rate of about 19%, close to the average rate of other providers.
In this category, AultCare offers an average monthly plan rate of $817, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $3,913.
Plan Recommendation
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans from AultCare:
Ambetter offers the best cheap health insurance in Ohio, with a MoneyGeek score of 70 out of 100. Ambetter provides plan options with more affordable rates, lower average out-of-pocket expenses and denies fewer claims compared to many other providers.
For this analysis, we evaluated 76 Silver plans in Ohio. That number includes 65 Silver HMO plans and 11 Silver PPO plans. MoneyGeek focused on plans with lower monthly premiums for this category, but remember that plans with lower premiums often come with higher out-of-pocket costs.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Few claims denied, ensuring reliable coverage
Limited available plan options
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Ohio is Ambetter. They offer eight Silver plans, which can be a good choice for families looking for value in their health care. Ambetter's Silver plans in Ohio are all HMOs. HMO plans usually require choosing a primary care doctor and getting referrals to specialists.
Ambetter provides an average monthly plan rate of $498, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,750. It also features a 15% denial rate, which is lower than most of its competition.
Plan Recommendation
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans from Ambetter:
AultCare offers the best health insurance in Ohio for health care consumers with low income, scoring 65 out of 100. AultCare has lower-than-average rates and average out-of-pocket costs while denying fewer claims than some providers. It also offers a variety of plan types to suit different needs.
In Ohio, our analysis included 65 Silver CSR (cost-sharing reduction) HMO plans and six Silver CSR PPO plans for a comprehensive look at what's available. MoneyGeek focused on plans with low monthly premiums and included only plans with cost-sharing reductions to decide which was the best for individuals with low income.
Here are some details depending on how much money you earn in a year:
These percentages change if you have more or fewer people living in your home.
Low premium rates
Variety of plan options
Average claim denial rate
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Ohio for those with low income is AultCare. This provider offers cost-effective plans for individuals earning below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
AultCare provides six Silver CSR plans at an average rate of $495 per month. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $6,682. The company's claims denial rate is around 19%, indicating an average denial rate.
Plan Recommendations
AultCare's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
AultCare offers the best health insurance in Ohio for young adults, earning a MoneyGeek score of 63 out of 100. We evaluated nine Bronze plans, 49 Expanded Bronze plans and seven Catastrophic plans for this category.
The provider ranks well for having low out-of-pocket costs and a variety of plan types. Note that only individuals under the age of 30 can get Catastrophic coverage.
Low out-of-pocket expenses
Broad selection of plan types
Average claims denial score
AultCare is an excellent choice for young adults seeking health insurance in Ohio. It offers two Catastrophic plans, two Bronze plans and five Expanded Bronze plans. These options can help young adults stay covered without spending too much. This provider offers an average monthly plan rate of $360, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,806. AultCare has an average claims denial rate of around 19%, which is average compared to its competition.
AultCare provides plans with more out-of-network coverage, as it offers PPO plans. PPOs allow you to see doctors outside the network, which can be very helpful for consumers.
Plan Recommendation
MoneyGeek recommends the following AultCareplans for young adults:
Health insurance companies often offer different plan types. The best providers for all plan categories in Ohio are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations include only Silver plans. Silver plans provide a balance between the monthly cost and what you pay out-of-pocket when you get care. They work well for people who go to the doctor more often.
Ohio has 65 Silver HMO plans, and 11 Silver PPO plans to choose from.
MoneyGeek's top pick for Ohio's best health insurance for Silver HMO plans is Ambetter. This provider offers an average monthly plan rate of $498, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,750. Ambetter has a low denial rate of 15%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver HMO plans often cost less each month compared to other types. But you can only use doctors in the HMO's network unless it's an emergency. You must get a referral if you need to see a specialist. These plans work well if you want to pay less each month and the doctors in the network are close to you.
Plan Recommendation
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Ambetter:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Ohio for Silver PPO plans is AultCare. It has eleven Silver PPO plans. It offers an average monthly rate of $570, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,204. AultCare has a denial rate of 19%, which is average compared to its competitors.
PPO plans like the ones from AultCare let you choose your doctors, and you don't need a special visit to see a specialist. They typically have more options but can cost more money than other plans. If you want to pick your doctors and are okay with the price, PPO plans could be a good fit for you.
Plan Recommendation
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from AultCare:
National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term health insurance in Ohio, receiving a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. This insurer is our top choice due to its well-rounded scores for plan types, coverage limits and affordability. Because short-term health insurance plans don’t include key health benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they are not recommended as a substitute for health insurance. Instead, you can use them as a bridge for temporary gaps in coverage.
National General Accident & Health stands out because it offers a wide range of plan options to accommodate various health care demands. The company offers plans for high-risk patients with modest co-insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. Plans can have durations of three months to three years and offer several options for cost-sharing and prescription drug coverage.
Your budget and medical needs — including how much you're willing to spend each month versus when you receive care — will determine which health insurance provider in Ohio is right for you. The following pointers can be helpful when planning to get health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
In-network coverage means your insurance works with certain doctors and hospitals. Out-of-network means they are not part of the deal with your insurance. Some plans let you use out-of-network places, but it can cost more. Other plans might not pay at all if you go out-of-network.
Ohio has 11 PPO plans and 65 HMO plans. Some give you a choice to go out-of-network, but it may cost more in monthly premiums. Others might cost you less, but you have less flexibility when going out-of-network.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
Finding a good balance between cost and coverage is key when looking for health insurance. Plans with low monthly payments often have higher out-of-pocket limits. Paying a bit more each month may lower your out-of-pocket maximum, saving you a lot of money if you go to the doctor frequently.
For example, Ambetter's Clear Silver plan offers the lowest out-of-pocket maximum at $5,400, costing $487 monthly. This premium is very close to the average cost of Ambetter's other Silver plans, meaning it could be worthwhile to pay slightly more each month to lower your maximum out-of-pocket expenses.
Those with a qualifying illness or disability or are older adults (aged 65 and older) can obtain Medicare, a government-backed program that subsidizes health care. Medicare comprises three parts:
We also handpicked the top Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio, and the best Medicare Supplement plans in Ohio.
Medicaid is another federal program that caters to individuals within the state-specific income bracket. Ohio is a Medicaid expansion state, so households with incomes less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level can qualify for free Medicaid.
Finding an ideal health insurance plan can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.
Ambetter provides the best health insurance in Ohio for 2024. However, your best choice will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
We recommend looking for a plan with reasonable prices and sufficient coverage. Despite offering reduced prices, some plans and companies might only offer a few services that may not suit all your medical needs. Your unique needs will determine what the best health insurance plan for you is.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
