▶Watch: Private PPO vs. ACA Marketplace — which is right for you? (50 sec)
Can you still get private health insurance in Ohio? Yes — and Ohio gives you more to work with than most states. For 2026, eleven carriers sell individual and family plans, even as marketplace rates rose about 19.8% on average and the enhanced federal subsidies expired. More choice means bigger differences between plans — and more money on the table for comparing carefully. We compare private medical plans side by side with HealthCare.gov marketplace coverage, statewide.
Open enrollment for 2027 HealthCare.gov coverage in Ohio runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll by January 15 for a February 1 start. Plans, prices, and networks change by ZIP code, so we quote every marketplace plan at your address, check your 2027 premium tax credit, and enroll you at no cost.
For 2026, Ohio's individual market includes Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Mutual of Ohio, CareSource, Buckeye Health Plan (Ambetter), Oscar, Molina, and AmeriHealth Caritas, among eleven total carriers — with availability varying by county.
Carriers, networks, and hospital access differ sharply between metros. Start with your area:
OSU Wexner & the James, OhioHealth, Mount Carmel, Nationwide Children's.
Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth — and the network choice that defines this market.
UC Health, Christ Hospital, TriHealth, St. Elizabeth, Cincinnati Children's.
With the enhanced federal subsidies expired, many Ohio households are paying full price for the first time. Your exact premium depends on your age, ZIP code, and household size — which is why we quote every carrier and every route to coverage before recommending anything.
Traditional marketplace and off-exchange plans are not the only route. Many Ohioans — especially the self-employed, independent contractors, and small-business owners — also qualify for true employer-level group coverage regulated under federal ERISA and Department of Labor rules. Qualifying as a bona fide employee takes only a few basic requirements — full-time work is not required — and pre-existing conditions are covered, just as with any employer group plan. You get the same kind of group PPO coverage large employers offer, with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card, and enrollment is open year-round, not just during open enrollment. Availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
If you are looking for health insurance that covers Cleveland Clinic, the plan you choose matters more in Ohio than almost anywhere. For 2027, Cleveland Clinic's own accepted-insurance list shows Cleveland Clinic + Oscar as its system-wide marketplace option; the other exchange plans it lists cover only a few community hospitals and end December 31, 2026. Cleveland Clinic and Anthem are also in a contract dispute — if no agreement is reached, Cleveland Clinic goes out-of-network for Anthem employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2027.
We work with a range of private PPO plans — employer-level group PPOs and other exclusive plans generally not published online — on national PPO networks that can include Cleveland Clinic. That gives Ohio individuals, families, and the self-employed a PPO path to Cleveland Clinic's main campus, family health centers, and Northeast Ohio hospitals without being locked into a single marketplace plan. Tell us Cleveland Clinic access is a priority and we will shop the private health insurance options that include it, then confirm it for your exact plan before you apply.
The honest answer: it depends on your subsidy. If you qualify for a meaningful premium tax credit, a marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov is usually the better value. If you get little or no subsidy — the situation many Ohio households found themselves in after the enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025 — an off-exchange private medical plan or employer-level group coverage frequently wins on network, price, or both. A five-minute comparison settles it, and our service is free either way.
Between 55 and 65 and not on Medicare yet? Early retirees in Ohio, people between jobs, and anyone whose spouse is moving to Medicare can compare private PPO, ACA, and COBRA options side by side in our guide to health insurance before Medicare.
Yes. Beyond on- and off-exchange marketplace plans, we also offer exclusive private, employer-group (ERISA) PPO options with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card. These plans aren’t published on the public marketplace, enrollment is open year-round, and availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
Yes. Every ACA-compliant private plan covers pre-existing conditions — no medical questions, no exclusions. ERISA employer-level group plans cover pre-existing conditions as well, just as with any employer coverage.
Network access depends on the specific plan, and it changes year to year — in Cleveland especially, many plans include Cleveland Clinic or University Hospitals but not both. We verify your doctors and hospitals against each plan's current network before you enroll.
For 2027, Cleveland Clinic + Oscar is the system-wide marketplace option on Cleveland Clinic's accepted-insurance list. Outside the marketplace, private PPO plans on national PPO networks can offer Cleveland Clinic access for those who qualify. Anthem employer and Medicare Advantage members could lose in-network access January 1, 2027 if no new contract is reached. We confirm Cleveland Clinic is in-network for your exact plan before you enroll.
Marketplace and off-exchange ACA plans: during the annual fall open enrollment period, or year-round within 60 days of a qualifying life event. Employer-level ERISA group plans: enrollment is open year-round for those who qualify. We also have other exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO plan options beyond what is published online. Contact us for specific details.
No. Premiums are identical with or without an agent — carriers pay us, not you. You get the comparison and enrollment help at no cost.
Compare Every Private Health Plan Available at Your Ohio ZIP Code
Free comparison from a licensed advisor — marketplace, off-exchange, and employer-level coverage buy-in options.
Call (800) 939-3330 Get My Plan Options
Plus exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO options generally not published online — click Get My Plan Options or call us for details.
Rate change figures are 2026 averages from Ohio regulatory filings; premiums vary by age, ZIP code, and household size. Employer-level group plan availability subject to eligibility requirements.
