As of 2019, about 760,000 people did not have health insurance in Ohio. That’s according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and represents nearly 7% of the state’s population. In a separate report in 2021, KFF analyzed the uninsured data again and found that of the people still without coverage, just under 413,000 people would qualify for marketplace coverage.
Marketplace health insurance is the kind that’s regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA requires these plans to cover a set of benefits considered essential. These include, among other things, preventive care, hospitalization, mental health care and prescription drugs. Marketplace plans must cover pre-existing conditions as well.
The ACA also created premium subsidies for people who earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. These subsidies make health insurance more affordable for those who qualify, which includes most people.
In fact, when Kaiser Family Foundation looked at the uninsured rate in Ohio, they found that 15% of the people without health insurance who qualify for marketplace coverage could get a bronze plan for free thanks to subsidies.
The nonprofit also analyzed premium data in Ohio and found that the lowest cost averages by plan type in 2021 are $280 for a bronze plan, $360 for a silver plan and $428 for gold. These are monthly premium costs and don’t include subsidies.
When we took a look at health insurance plans in Ohio using our own marketplace, we found that a 40-year-old living in Cleveland who makes $37,000 a year could find a bronze plan for $220.33 a month. That does include subsidies.
How much you pay for your health plan depends on where you live. Plan options vary, too. In Ohio, there are at least 9 insurers offering marketplace coverage in 2021, including Oscar, Molina, Anthem and Centene.
Sources
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Marketplace Eligibility Among the Uninsured: Implications for a Broadened Enrollment Period and ACA Outreach” (January 27, 2021)
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2021”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Insurer Participation on the ACA Marketplaces, 2014-2021” (November 23, 2020)