Boy…are you in trouble! I hear you have to find health insurance for yourself and your family. And you don’t have a clue where to start, what to look for or who to ask. Well, join the thousands of consumers that are in the same boat (I’ll refrain from any more puns).

Here’s the good news. You live in Ohio, so your Ohio health insurance rates will be fairly low compared to most states. In addition, there’s a wide variety of plans to choose from.

Oh. I get it. There’s TOO many plans. They all look similar. And the guy from New Jersey tells you buy his plan and the telemarketer from Florida say she’ll tell you which plan is the best…AFTER you give him your credit card information. Sheesh! And let’s not forget the slick salesperson that quotes you a price, but can’t provide the coverages in writing.

To help you out. I have listed below 10 of the best available health insurance plans to Ohio residents. Yes, you will have to medically qualify. Also, rates will vary according to your age and zip code. And of course…if you don’t smoke, you’ll be getting a healthy discount.

So here we go…

Anthem Blue Access Plan 2 $25 Copay on office visits. No deductible on prescriptions.

Anthem Luminos HIA Health Savings Account. Top- notch with preventative coverage

Medical Mutual SuperMed One. Solid policy.

UnitedHealthCare Copay Select. No frills and straightforward.

Celtic Preferred Select. Celtic’s very best policy.

National Life No Claim Allowed. OK. I’m just making sure you’re still with me!

Medical Mutual SuperMed One has. I like Anthem’s better, but this one isn’t bad.

UnitedHealthCare has 100. Nice policy. Skip the UHC has 80.

Anthem Blue Access Plan 3. 100% coverage after the deductible.

Aetna PPO. Barely makes the list. Good policy, but not great.

Are you ready for for my Bottom 10? I have some doosies, but I’ll spare certain companies the embarrassment.

For additional information regarding Ohio Health Insurance plans, please visit http://www.majormedicalhealth.com or http://www.ohioquotes.com

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

“The survey of state-level enforcement found Ohio doesn’t require insurers to sell coverage to everyone who applies for it or prohibit higher premiums based on health status, like states including New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

However, Ohio regulators review some rate and premium increases before insurers can charge them, and the state has an external review program where consumers can appeal denials, the study said.

A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Insurance said Thursday that no one was available to discuss the study’s findings.
A December 2007 study on individual health insurance by the trade-industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans, found that 89 percent of applicants are offered coverage, and that Ohio’s average premium is $2,498 for an individual and $5,303 for a family.

My take: It’s not such a bad thing that Ohio’s health insurers can charge higher rates to those applicants that are in poor health. Otherwise, rates would dramatically increase for EVERYONE…especially those in good health. Remember…Ohio has an “Open Enrollment” for persons that may not qualify for individual coverage.
From The Dayton Daily News:

“When Ohioans don’t buy their health insurance through employers or other groups, they usually don’t have very good insurance.