Cheapest (and Best) Health Insurance in Columbus, OH (2024)

Your location, age, plan type, health care demands and the number of people on your policy will play a role in determining the cost of your health insurance. MoneyGeek gathered and analyzed Marketplace data to look for the cheapest health insurance companies in Columbus, Ohio. We also considered monthly premiums, maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs, plan selections and claim denial rates to determine the best provider.

Insurance companies don't all offer every plan type or metal tier. Exploring your options will help you find a plan that meets your requirements. If only one company is available in your area, it’s best to choose a plan or a tier that best caters to your needs.

MoneyGeek ranked insurance companies based on their cost, plan options and customer service. We found that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the best health insurance in Columbus, with an average premium of $417 per month and a MOOP limit of $4,176 for Silver plans. The second-best company is Oscar, which offers Silver plans with an average cost of $439 per month and a MOOP of $4,834. To find the best health insurance for you, we recommend looking into plan options, cost sharing and customer service in addition to cost.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the best affordable health insurance in Columbus based on our study. Its average monthly premium is $417, and its average MOOP of $4,176.

Your premium will vary based on several factors, including location and age. The cost of your health insurance will also depend on how you prefer to share health care costs with your insurer.

The best insurance company may not always be the most affordable. You can find cheap health insurance plans by becoming familiar with the Marketplace metal system and understanding how premiums and MOOP expenses relate to each other. It's also important to consider deductibles, copays and co-insurance when evaluating cost.

The least expensive average Silver premium in Columbus is from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield at $417 per month. The cheapest option may not always be the best, but if you want affordable rates, Silver plans offer a decent compromise between monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. They also often come with cost-sharing reductions.

The metal system includes tiers that range from Bronze to Platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums but also the highest MOOPs. Catastrophic plans are generally even cheaper than Bronze plans but include age restrictions.

The chart below shows the cheapest insurers in Columbus by metal tier along with their average costs. We excluded Catastrophic plans as they are only available to people under 30.

The cheapest Silver plan in Columbus is Anthem Silver Pathway X HMO 5800/40% Standard from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. It has an average premium of $408 per month and an average MOOP cost of $5,200.

The following table lists the most affordable insurers in Columbus according to metal tier. Catastrophic plans were not included because they are only offered to people under 30.

Age is a significant factor when it comes to determining health insurance costs, regardless of where you live. Premiums increase as you age to account for the expected increase in your health care demands.

The most affordable plans are almost always Bronze and Extended Bronze plans. Catastrophic plans can be less expensive, but you must be under 30 to buy one.

When considering a lower-tiered plan, it's important to check the insurer’s network to avoid paying more for out-of-network care. Some of the least expensive insurers for Silver plans are included in the chart below.

Your age and the metal tier you select both play a big role in determining your health insurance premiums. Higher metal tiers will equal higher premiums. Additionally, your rates will rise as you grow older. The graph below shows how age and metal tier affect your premiums.

Those with low incomes may be eligible for financial assistance through health insurance subsidies. The government typically offers these subsidies to reduce the cost of plans for those whose income is between 100% and 400% of the FPL. However, the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have extended the benefits to those whose income is over 400% of the FPL until 2025.

If you are not eligible for subsidies, you may want to consider Medicaid or CHIP. Depending on the state, incomes for Medicaid eligibility range from 100% to 150% of the FPL. Government-funded programs like Medicaid and Medicare provide access to more affordable health care.

To help you find a plan that balances service and cost, MoneyGeek provided answers to some frequently asked questions regarding health insurance in Columbus.