Ohio open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · Ohio

Ohio Open Enrollment 2027 for Self-Employed

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For self-employed people and 1099 contractors in Ohio, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15 is the date to choose by for a January 1 start. A private, medically underwritten plan does not wait for the window: if approved, it can start the first of any month, which suits income that never arrives on a schedule.

What 2027 looks like for you

Ohio's average 2027 rate change is 16.3% (finalized). The details are on the Ohio 2027 premium increase page.

The subsidy line for 2027 sits at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person and $86,560 for two. For self-employed people the income that counts is net business income after expenses, plus any other household income, and a strong fourth quarter can carry you over the line. Starting with tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credit, so estimate carefully. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.

Ohio this year

Ohio's finalized 2027 individual increase averages about 16.3 percent, and its large, competitive Marketplace has many insurers, especially around Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Ohioans use HealthCare.gov; December 15 is the cutoff for a New Year's Day start, and enrollment ends January 15, 2027. Owner-operators on I-70 and I-75, manufacturing and skilled-trade contractors, healthcare contractors and farm families in the western counties who make more than the 400 percent limit pay the full increase. Ohioans who winter in Florida should also make sure their network works in both states.

Work I see most often among Ohio's self-employed buyers: 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.

One thing to do before you choose

Self-employed Ohioans who earn too much for a subsidy should price a private plan next to the Marketplace this fall. Medically underwritten policies look at health and age instead of income, must be approved after a health application, and stand apart from HealthCare.gov, with benefits that change from policy to policy. If you split the year with Florida, ask how each option handles care out of state; I can walk through both by phone or video, in English or Spanish.

Your checklist

Your Ohio renewal notice and its 2027 price
A net income estimate with a cushion
Doctors and prescriptions in each network
A private quote if you are healthy and near the line

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

Healthy and above the line: priced on age, ZIP code and health, not income. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

A health condition or income under the line: HealthCare.gov must accept you, and the subsidy may make it the better value.

Compare Ohio plans this open enrollment

Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

About your broker

Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307), licensed in 31 states including Ohio. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.

Questions

When is the 2027 open enrollment deadline in Ohio?

January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked after that start February 1.

Ohio used to allow year-long short-term plans. Can I still use one as my main coverage?

Not the way you once could. Under current federal rules, short-term plans in Ohio are a bridge of only a few months and do not cover pre-existing conditions. A medically underwritten private plan is a different, year-round product, and the insurer decides on approval after reviewing your health.

Can I get a private plan in Ohio after open enrollment closes?

Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.

More for Ohio

Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. 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.