Ohio Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Ohio runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked December 16–January 15 start February 1. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for Ohio
| What | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Open enrollment closes | January 15, 2027 |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | December 15, 2026 |
| Plans picked December 16 to January 15 | Start February 1, 2027 |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
Ohio at a glance
- Where Ohio buys Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace
- 2027 average rate change: 16.3% (finalized)
- Small-group average change: about 22%
- Largest metro areas: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo
- Medicaid expansion: Yes (a separate program, not tied to this window)
What changed for 2027
Ohio's 16.3 percent is finalized. The 22 percent small-group average is one of the steepest group increases anywhere I am licensed, which changes the math for owners with a handful of employees. More detail is on the Ohio 2027 premium increase page.
For Ohio households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in Ohio
Ohio's small employers get the harshest 2027 number here, about 22 percent on group renewals, while individual plans rise about 16.3 percent. Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati have a crowded, competitive Marketplace, and Ohioans who winter in Florida should check whether their plan's network works in both states.
Self-employed work that is common in Ohio, and the people I most often help there: owner-operator truck drivers on the I-70 and I-75 corridors, construction trades, manufacturing and skilled-trade contractors, real estate agents, healthcare contractors, small business owners, and farm families across the western counties.
Before you renew in Ohio
Ohioans should check hospital systems before plans: in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, a plan can include one large system and not another, so confirm yours by name in the directory before renewing. Cincinnati-area households using Northern Kentucky doctors, and Toledo families near Michigan, should check that the network crosses the state line.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and HealthCare.gov re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 16.3% higher on average in Ohio.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Ohio too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Ohio's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your Ohio renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Columbus or Cleveland
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Ohio's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through HealthCare.gov. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in Ohio? Ohio requires insured group plans to offer 12 months of continuation to employees who lose coverage through involuntary termination, after three months of continuous coverage, at no more than the group rate.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Ohio does not define short-term plans in its own law; its insurance department treats them as one-time policies of no more than 364 days, while federal rules set a four-month limit that is not currently being prioritized for enforcement. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Ohio, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Ohio plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including Ohio. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not HealthCare.gov or a government agency.
Ohio open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Ohio for 2027?
January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace. Pick a plan by December 15 for a January 1 start in Ohio.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Ohio?
You can still enroll through January 15, but a plan picked after December 15 starts February 1.
Can I get a private plan in Ohio outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Ohio you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in Ohio?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 16.3% higher on average.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Ohio?
No. Ohio clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Should an Ohio business owner compare individual plans this year?
With small-group renewals averaging about 22 percent, pricing individual coverage for the owner, or an ICHRA or QSEHRA for staff, against the group renewal is worth doing before you sign.
More for Ohio
Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. HealthCare.gov is the federal Marketplace. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Ohio and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.