Ohio health insurance is big business. Unfortunately, sometimes it turns out to be monkey business.

When you go online and request an Ohio health insurance quote, you’re likely to be contacted…no…make that BOMBARDED, with calls and emails from across the US. And while the vast majority of persons who contact you are honest professionals, you may be contacted by a con artist looking to make a fast buck.

These Ohio health insurance scams operate in every state and are stealing millions of dollars from innocent victims. And sometimes, you don’t find out until your medical bills go unpaid.

However…there are some warning signs that can help you avoid a scam:

·        The plan appears to be similar to insurance, but the representative used words such as “benefits” and “coverage” instead of “insurance.”

·        You are asked to pay an expensive “application fee” or “association fee” in addition to the premium.

·        The company has no local offices and you have never heard of them.

·        The rep explaining the plan tells you that the policy must be purchased immediately or the rate will go up the next day.

·        The plan you are applying for accepts all applicants. Serious medical conditions do not affect the rate.

·        The rate appears to be substantially lower than other “Name-brand” plans and coverages appear to be higher.

·        The rep tells you they don’t have any materials to send in the mail until after you pay the initial fee.

Of course…as the old saying goes…If it sounds too good to be true…it probably is.

Ohioquotes.com, Ohio’s premier resource for Ohio health insurance plans, never uses any type of “discount plan” or any insurer not rated “A” by A.M. Best Company. To instantly view, compare and apply for high quality health coverage, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page.

Evidently, you know where to buy your Ohio health insurance, because you’re here! Ohioquotes.com is the premier source for Ohio health insurance plans. If you don’t currently have insurance, or you’re looking for a more affordable policy, you have come to the right place.  But there are hundreds…perhaps thousands of websites that will provide rates.

So…what makes this website so special? Let’s start with the plans that are presented to you. Only quality companies are considered. You know…the reputable ones, such as Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, UnitedHealthCare, Medical Mutual, Celtic and Humana. You’ll never find any type of “discount plan” or any company that I wouldn’t use for my own coverage.

Comparing different Ohio health care plans can be very confusing. But we try to simplify the process for you. Side-by-side comparisons allow you to select the coverages that you need and choose an affordable plan. And if you apply for coverage, you’ll get plenty of help. Your short application can be completed online, via fax or by mail. And a live person is generally available to assist you. We answer emails past midnight!

Just as importantly, when you are requesting an Ohio health insurance quote, do you want six out-of-state brokers incessantly calling you and possibly recommending the wrong plans? Of course not. Many online quote websites are simply selling your information to anyone that will pay for it. This site? We never release your information to anyone. And nobody will ever ask for your checking account or credit card number. If you want us to call you, we will. But otherwise, we promise not to call.

But what about the rates? Are they truly the lowest available  rates? You betcha! And that’s a guarantee. Ohio health care rates are regulated by the Department of Insurance. So, you won’t find a lower premium. And we’ll take the extra time to make sure the plan you purchase is the right fit. You’ll be able to use the coverages that are important to you, and avoid paying for items that you don’t need and would never use.

With 30 years of experience, we have helped thousands of customers. When you buy Ohio medical coverage,  whether it’s an online link we provide or by fax or email, we research your options like no other website or broker. We understand each plan and will simplify the application process and get you covered as quickly as possible. And of course, when you request a comparison at the top of the page, the quote is free!

There are many Ohio health insurance companies that offer individual and family coverage to Ohio residents. Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealthCare, Medical Mutual and Aetna are the four largest carriers. But there are numerous other companies that offer medical coverage in Ohio

To help you select the most affordable Ohio health insurance plan, a comprehensive list of the major Ohio health insurance companies is listed below:

Anthem Blue Cross is the largest Ohio health insurance company, providing coverage to almost one out of every four insureds. A wide variety of plans are available, including “Blue Access Plan 2,” Anthem’s most comprehensive policy. The “Value” plans offer substantial discounts in exchange for limitations of office visit and prescription coverage.

UPDATE: In March of 2009, Anthem introduced three new Ohio health insurance plans. The “Premier” plan is a comprehensive policy featuring lower out-of-pocket costs. The “SmartSense” plan is a comprehensive plan with some limitations in benefits. And the “Lumenos HSA” plan ha some new features.

Medical Mutual of Ohio (MMO) is one of the oldest Ohio health insurance companies. Recently, they expanded their plan portfolio to include some lower-cost plans. Their smoker rates are very competitive, and MMO’s Health Savings Account (HSA) policies (Wellness plans) feature some of the best rates in the state. Their 0% coinsurance plan is very popular.

UnitedHealthCare (UHC) offers a broad range of polices at extremely competitive rates. After purchasing Golden Rule Insurance company a few years ago, UHC’s market share substantially increased. Rates are based on zip codes, as opposed to the more common county-rating system. At the very high BMI (Body Mass Index) ratings, UnitedHealthcare is not as forgiving as most other companies. One of UHC’s strong points is their large portfolio of Ohio health insurance plans.

Celtic has excellent temporary plans that are typically the lowest (or close to the lowest) cost. Their “Basic” plan has limited coverage but is very low-priced.

Kaiser offers medical coverage to residents of Northern Ohio. Ohio residents in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati areas will not be able to obtain a policy.

Humana is not always the lowest-cost Ohio insurance company, but offers comprehensive plans with solid coverages. They are one of the few Ohio companies to offer maternity coverage, and have a very popular policy (Autograph Share 80 plan) that allows six office visits and is competitively priced. Their “short-term” rates are excellent and you’ll see them featured on our website.

Aetna began offering individual Ohio health insurance plans in 2005. Since that time, they have added many new plans, including the low-cost “Preventative and Hospital Care” policy. Overall, Aetna’s Ohio rates are extremely competitive. Their “Value” plans have become more popular in recent years. They limit the number of covered doctor visits but the rate is attractive.

Time Insurance (formerly Fortis) Company, offers more policy options than almost every other carrier. But, unfortunately, their rates in Ohio are extremely uncompetitive, and they also receive an unusually high number of consumer complaints.

UPDATE: May 2011. Time (also known as “Assurant”) has reduced the number of consumer complaints. They are the only carrier in the state that offers “child only” policies.

For a personalized recommendation based on your needs or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” icon at the top of the page or email eharris@ohioquotes.com While there are dozens of Ohio health insurance companies available to the consumer, we’ll personally select and review the handful of plans that will be your best options. And unlike many other websites, we never sell or give your information to any other person or company.

Did you really go online and request an Ohio health insurance quote? Well…let me guess what happened. You received 26 phone calls the first day, and about 15 calls every day for two weeks. If you went on multiple websites, you may still be getting calls!

There are many low cost Ohio health insurance plans that have premiums 15%-40% less than the typical standard plan. Coverages are often quite rich and the underwriting criteria is identical to all other plans.

Generally, the major differences between the most expensive plans and the “low cost” plans are the out of pocket expenses on major claims and the number of allowed office visits per year. Also, non-generic prescriptions may be limited or not covered under the low cost plans.

For example, the current monthly rate for a 40-year old male in Warren County is between $90 and $120 per month. Unlimited office visits and comprehensive prescription coverage is common on these types of policies.

But if price is the top priority, here are five low-cost Ohio health insurance options:

$50 Aetna’s Preventative and Hospital Care plan. Limited office visit coverage with good preventative features

$60 Aetna’s PPO Value 5000 plan. Limited office visit coverage with some prescription coverage included.

$68 Anthem’s Blue Access Value plan. Limited office visit coverage with some prescription coverage included.

$69 UnitedHealthCare’s Copay Select plan. Unlimited office visit coverage with comprehensive prescription coverage. $7500 deductible on major items.

$78 Aetna’s PPO 5000 plan. Unlimited office visit coverage with comprehensive prescription coverage.

All of these options are low cost Ohio health insurance plans issued by major reputable companies. There are never any application or enrollment fees and physicals are rarely required.

To instantly view and compare different plans, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page.

UPDATE May 2011-  It’s hard to believe that I wrote that article 3 1/2 years ago. Time does fly! Many of the plans mentioned in this article have changed or are no longer available. For example, Anthem’s Value plan is not offered.  But there are still many affordable plans that are rich in coverage.