Ohio's open enrollment for 2027 HealthCare.gov plans runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. The Ohio Department of Insurance approved nine exchange insurers for 2027, down from 11, so check whether yours is still offered in your county.

What are the key 2027 dates?

HealthCare.gov and the Ohio Department of Insurance list the same calendar:

• November 1, 2026. Open enrollment starts.
• December 15, 2026. Last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts January 1.
• January 1, 2027. Coverage begins for people who enrolled by December 15 and paid the first premium.
• January 15, 2027. Open enrollment ends.
• February 1, 2027. Coverage begins for people who enrolled December 16 through January 15.

After January 15, you can only enroll or switch if you qualify for a special enrollment period, like losing other coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby.

Which insurers are selling Ohio exchange plans for 2027?

The Department lists these companies as filing to sell on the exchange for 2027:

• AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio
• Antidote Health Plan of Ohio
• Buckeye Community Health Plan
• Community Insurance Company
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Oscar Buckeye State Insurance Corporation
• Oscar Insurance Corporation of Ohio
• Summa Insurance Company
• UnitedHealthcare of Ohio

Some of these legal names don't match the brand on your card. Community Insurance Company, for example, is the company name behind Anthem's Ohio plans, and Buckeye Community Health Plan sells under the Ambetter brand. If your 2026 insurer isn't on this list, you'll need to choose a new plan to stay covered.

Will your county have many choices?

That depends on where you live. The Department's 2027 county map breaks it down:

• 2 insurers in 5 counties.
• 3 insurers in 11 counties.
• 4 insurers in 15 counties.
• 5 insurers in 28 counties.
• 6 insurers in 14 counties.
• 7 insurers in 13 counties.
• 8 or more insurers in 2 counties.

Big metro counties like Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton and Summit have seven or eight insurers. Athens, Knox, Lawrence, Marion and Richland have two. If you're in a two-insurer county, compare networks especially carefully, because one company may include the hospital you use and the other may not.

Do you have to pick a new plan even if you're happy?

The Department's advice is direct: Ohioans who bought exchange coverage for 2026 and want to keep coverage must select a plan for 2027 during open enrollment. HealthCare.gov may automatically re-enroll some people, but automatic renewal can land you in a plan with a new premium, a new network or a different deductible. Logging in and confirming your choice takes a few minutes and avoids January surprises.

When you compare, look past the monthly premium:

• Network. Search the plan's directory for your doctors and the hospital closest to you.
• Drugs. Check each prescription against the plan's formulary, and note the tier.
• Deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. These decide what a bad year costs you.
• Metal level. Silver plans are the only ones that carry cost-sharing reductions for lower incomes.

How do you update your income and household?

Your premium tax credit is based on your estimated 2027 household income, not last year's. Update your application if anything changed: a new job, a raise, a lost job, a child aging off your plan, a marriage or divorce. Estimating too low can mean paying some of the credit back at tax time. Estimating too high means paying more each month than you need to.

If your income is low enough, you may qualify for Ohio Medicaid instead. The HealthCare.gov application screens for that and passes your information along.

Where can you get help?

You have a few options, and none should cost you anything to ask:

• A licensed agent or broker who sells exchange plans. The Department lists contacting an agent or broker as a good first step.
• HealthCare.gov's call center at 800-318-2596.
• The Ohio Department of Insurance at 800-686-1526 for problems with current coverage or claims.

What if your insurer is leaving?

If your 2026 company isn't on the 2027 list, your plan won't continue on the exchange next year. Don't wait for a letter to sort it out. Log in, compare the plans in your county, and pick one by December 15 so there's no gap on January 1.

Before you switch, check whether your current doctors and hospital are in the new plan's network. If you're in the middle of treatment, like a pregnancy or chemotherapy, ask the new insurer about transition of care rules so you can keep seeing the same providers for a while.

FAQ

When is the deadline for Ohio health insurance for January 1, 2027?

December 15, 2026. Enroll and pay your first premium by then for coverage starting January 1.

When does Ohio open enrollment end for 2027?

January 15, 2027. Plans chosen December 16 through January 15 start February 1.

How many insurers sell Ohio exchange plans in 2027?

Nine, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance, down from 11 in 2026.

Does Ohio run its own health insurance exchange?

No. Ohio uses the federal exchange at HealthCare.gov.

Next step

Sit down with a licensed local agent before December 15 and compare two or three 2027 plans side by side. Bring your doctor list and prescriptions, and ask which plans in your county keep your hospital in network.

Sources: Ohio Department of Insurance, 2027 Federal Exchange Plans; HealthCare.gov, dates and deadlines.