Ohio Health Insurance Coverage...
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If you are searching for ways to lower your health insurance costs and you live in the State of Ohio...We, here at HealthInsureCoverage.com, work hard to supply you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs and requirements.

• What protections are afforded you if you are a small business owner or self-employed individual in the State of Ohio?
     Federal law extends certain protections to employers seeking to buy health insurance for themselves and their workers. Ohio has enacted some reforms that expand some of these protections. Generally, small employers are those that employ 2-50 employees. Please note, however, that the definitions of small employer and employee are somewhat different under federal and state law. Check with the Ohio Department of Insurance to be sure that you know which protections apply to your group.
• Do insurance companies have to sell you health insurance?
     With few exceptions, small employers cannot be turned down. This is called guaranteed issue. If you employ at least 2 but not more than 50 people eligible for health benefits, health insurance companies must sell you any small group health plan they sell to small employers. However, they can require that a minimum percentage of your employees sign up for coverage. They can also require you to pay a minimum share of your workers’ premiums. If you are buying a large group health plan for 51 or more employees, your group can be turned down.
• Your insurance cannot be canceled because someone in your group becomes seriously ill.
     This is called guaranteed renewability and it applies to group plans of all sizes. Insurers can impose other conditions, however. They can require you to meet minimum participation and contribution rates in order to renew your coverage. Additionally, they can refuse to renew your coverage for nonpayment of premiums or if you commit fraud, or if they are discontinuing that insurance product. In the latter case, they must give you a chance to buy other plans they sell to groups of your size.
• Can you be charged more because of your group's health status?
     Within limits, premiums for small group health plans can vary based on the health status, age, gender, industry, and other characteristics of those in your group. Even within these limits, however, premiums can be significantly higher if someone in your group has a serious health condition. If you have 51 or more eligible employees, there are no limits on premium variation. Check with the Ohio Department of Insurance if you have questions about your group health plan premiums.
• What if you're self-employed?
     If you are self-employed with no other workers, you are not eligible to buy a group health plan on your own (though you may be able to join another group health plan through a family member). Therefore, the laws that protect employers’ access to group health insurance do not apply to you. Your access to health insurance is protected by the laws that apply to individuals.
• If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you are eligible to deduct an increasing percentage of the cost of your premium from your federal income tax.
     This deduction is 60% for 2000 and 2001, 70% for 2002, and 100% in 2003 and thereafter.
• What are "Association Plans"?
     Some small employers and self-employed people buy health insurance through professional or trade associations. The laws applying to association health coverage can be different than those for other health plans. Check with the Ohio Department of Insurance about your protections in association health plans.
• What kind of financial assistance is available if you're a low-income resident of Ohio and you can't afford health insurance?
     Help is available to certain low-income residents of Ohio who cannot afford to buy health insurance. Medicaid, Healthy Start, and Healthy Families offer free or subsidized health insurance coverage, direct medical services or other help. This chapter provides summary information about these programs and contact information for further assistance.
• Medicaid.
     Medicaid is a program that provides health coverage to some low-income Ohio residents. Medicaid covers families with children and pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities, if state and federal guidelines are met. Those who qualify for Medicaid programs must be Ohio residents and U.S. citizens. Additionally, certain legal residents who are not U.S. citizens may be eligible for coverage. Non-citizens who do not have immigration documents cannot enroll in Medicaid programs.
     For all categories of Medicaid, eligibility is based on the amount of your household income. For children with family incomes over 150% of the federal poverty level, eligibility is restricted to uninsured children who have not had health insurance for at least 6 months. For those who are applying for coverage because they are elderly or have a disability, eligibility is also based on the amount of assets an individual may have. Assets are things like cash, savings, stocks and bonds, etc. Contact your local county department of job and family services for more information.
• Low income persons eligible for Medicaid in Ohio.
  
  Category             Income Eligibility (% of federal poverty level)
  Uninsured Children  151-200% (income $2,439 (up to 19) family of 3)
  Children                150% (monthly income $1,828 family of 3)
  Pregnant women    150%
  Parents                100% (monthly income $1,219-family of 3)
  Elderly                   64% (monthly income $457- per individual)
  People w/Disabilities 64%
  
  
•    There are other programs available in the State of Ohio that can supplement families at or below the national poverty level. You can find out more by using the following information. No face to face interview is required. Applications can be obtained by contacting 1-800-324-8680/TDD 1-800-292-3572, or by visiting the local county Department of Job and Family Services, or on the internet at www.state.oh.us/odjfs/ohp.

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