Private Health Plans for the Self-Employed in Ohio

I am an independent, licensed health insurance broker, and I am licensed in Ohio. If you are self-employed, a 1099 contractor, or a freelancer, this page covers the options that sit outside the Marketplace — what is actually available in Ohio, what the trade-offs are, and when a private plan is the wrong answer. There is no fee for my help. The insurance company pays the broker, not you.

Ohio law allows short-term plans to run up to 36 months including renewals.

Ohio at a glance for the self-employed

Ohioans shop on HealthCare.gov, and Ohio has one of the more crowded markets. The 2027 lineup changes a lot: Molina, CareSource and Paramount are not on it, while Antidote Health Plan and AmeriHealth Caritas join Anthem, MedMutual, Oscar, Summa, UnitedHealthcare and Buckeye. If your plan is going away, you will need to pick a new one.

• Milder 2027 rates. Carriers proposed an average increase of about 11% for 2027, with filings ranging from a small decrease to about 24%.
• Enrollment fell hard. About 470,000 Ohioans picked a plan for 2026, down from about 583,000 in 2025, after the enhanced subsidies expired.
• Ohio expanded Medicaid. Adults up to 138% of the poverty level can qualify, which matters for self-employed people coming off a slow year.
• Farm Bureau plans since 2025. Ohio began allowing Farm Bureau health plans in 2025. They are medically underwritten membership plans, not insurance.

The 400% line matters more here than most people expect. For 2027 the credit stops above $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four, and there is no phase-out. See the full 2027 income limits.

Your private options in Ohio

• Short-term plans. Ohio allows short-term coverage for up to 36 months including renewals. That length makes them tempting, but they usually exclude pre-existing conditions and often leave out prescriptions and maternity, so read the benefit summary line by line.
• Farm Bureau health plans. Ohio began allowing these membership plans in 2025. They ask health questions and are not regulated as insurance, which can mean lower prices for healthy members and no guarantee of approval.
• Medically underwritten private plans. Health questions up front, often lower premiums for healthy applicants, broad PPO networks, and applications accepted any month.
• Supplemental coverage. Accident, critical-illness and hospital plans can soften a high deductible. How it works.

When private is the right call in Ohio, and when it is not

With nine carriers on HealthCare.gov for 2027 and proposed 2027 increases averaging about 11%, a healthy Ohio freelancer or business owner over the subsidy line often saves real money with a private plan.

Stay with HealthCare.gov if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, take expensive prescriptions, or qualify for a meaningful tax credit. If that is you, I will say so.

The tax piece

Most self-employed people can deduct their health insurance premiums, which also lowers the income that counts toward a subsidy. How it works for 1099 workers.

Ohio questions I hear a lot

Which carriers are leaving the Ohio Marketplace for 2027?

Molina, CareSource and Paramount are not in the 2027 lineup. Antidote Health Plan and AmeriHealth Caritas are joining.

How much are Ohio premiums going up for 2027?

Carriers proposed an average increase of about 11%, ranging from a slight decrease to about 24%.

Did Ohio expand Medicaid?

Yes. Adults with income up to 138% of the poverty level can qualify for Ohio Medicaid.

What if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level in Ohio?

You get no tax credit and pay full price. For healthy applicants a private medically underwritten plan is often cheaper. I compare both at no cost.

Posey Health Solutions · National Producer Number 20609967 · licensed in Ohio and 30 other states. This page is general information, not advice about a specific plan, and it is not tax advice. Plan availability, carrier participation, and duration limits vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and the rules can change.