Ranked 2 of 15 states · median $625/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old barber in Ohio pays a median $625/month for a Silver plan before subsidies — 2th of 15 on cost. The cheapest plan in the state is $482 from Oscar Health Insurance in Butler. On median Silver premium, Ohio ranks 2 of 15 for this occupation.
Patient-facing and standing work means steady, predictable utilization — regular visits, prescriptions, physical therapy. Copay structure and network breadth drive real annual cost more than the headline premium, so these pages rank states on median premium and carrier count together.
Occupational context: Repetitive shoulder/wrist strain; prolonged standing; chemical exposure.
Worth being clear about what this does and does not affect: a carrier in Ohio cannot ask what you do for a living, cannot charge a barber more than a librarian of the same age in the same ZIP, and cannot exclude anything you were already treated for. Occupation only tells you which plan structure to shop for.
Premium is set by rating area, so a barber in one Ohio county can pay materially more than one an hour away. Six counties from across the state, cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old:
| County | Cheapest Silver @40 | Issuer | Deductible | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | $566 | Antidote Health Plan of Ohio | $7,500 | 5 |
| Athens | $617 | CareSource | $6,200 | 4 |
| Cuyahoga | $489 | Molina Healthcare | $7,000 | 8 |
| Brown | $495 | Oscar Health Insurance | $6,000 | 8 |
| Sandusky | $497 | Molina Healthcare | $7,000 | 6 |
| Trumbull | $506 | Molina Healthcare | $7,000 | 7 |
The spread across just these six is $128/month — $1,538 a year for the same metal tier. Statewide the range runs $482 to $924. Coverage by County publishes all 88 Ohio counties individually.
| Ohio — network and cost | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median Silver premium @40 | $625 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $482 — Oscar Health Insurance (Butler) |
| Most expensive Silver @40 | $924 |
| Carriers filing in the state | 11 — Ambetter from Buckeye, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Antidote Health Plan of Ohio, CareSource |
| Plan types available | HMO |
| Counties with only one carrier | 0 of 88 |
Ohio has 11 carriers filing and 0 of 88 counties served by a single issuer. For a barber with an established provider relationship, that carrier count is the number that decides whether you keep your doctor.
Source: CMS Plan Year 2026 Qualified Health Plan Landscape file. 9,038 plan records across 88 Ohio counties. Full-price filed rates before premium tax credits — verify at enrollment.
Cheaper for the same coverage: Indiana ($558). More expensive: South Carolina ($636), Alabama ($680), Wisconsin ($687).
Side-by-side: Ohio vs Indiana · Ohio vs South Carolina · Ohio vs Alabama
Cross-state numbers are useful for understanding whether Ohio is treating you well, not for arbitrage. You cannot buy an out-of-state exchange plan. If you are a barber weighing a relocation for other reasons, the premium difference is a real line item worth putting in the decision.
Self-employed Barbers in Ohio typically deduct: Chair rental, clippers, products, licensing. Health premiums sit separately, above the line under IRC §162(l), and only when neither you nor a spouse could have joined an employer plan — eligibility disqualifies you even if you declined the coverage.
If your household income is above the subsidy range, ACA is not automatically the answer. There are other categories of coverage that may fit, and they work very differently. That is a conversation, not a web page.
The cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in Ohio is $482 per month from Oscar Health Insurance, with a state median of $625. Both figures are full price before premium tax credits; most buyers pay less after subsidies.
It cannot happen on an exchange plan. Rating in Ohio uses four inputs only: age, ZIP code, tobacco use and how many people are on the policy. Trade, injury history and pre-existing conditions are all excluded from pricing by law.
No. Only HMO plans were filed for 2026.
Ohio ranks 2 of 15 states covered here, at a median $625 per month. Indiana is cheapest at $558 and Nebraska is most expensive at $875.
This page compares states. For Ohio specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — I publish that on Coverage by County, including a page written for Barbers in Ohio and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.