Benchmark $513/mo · ranked 5 of 21 · median wage $56,990
Prefer to talk? Call (713) 575-9904
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 23 States
The benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in Ohio is $513 a month for 2026, ranking 5 of 21 states published here. BLS reports a median annual wage of $56,990 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Ohio.
Below the cliff. At this income a single-person household remains eligible for a premium tax credit in 2026.
This occupation sits above the cliff in 2 of the 21 states reported and below it in the other 19, so the answer changes with the state.
What this figure is. It is the median annual wage BLS reports for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018) in Ohio. BLS surveys wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed, so it is a benchmark for the occupation in this state — not the income of a self-employed counselor. Premium tax credit eligibility is set by household modified adjusted gross income and household size, not by occupation, so treat this as a reference point rather than a determination of what you qualify for.
Why the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on 31 December 2025. For plan year 2026 the 400% FPL limit applies again, so household income above $62,600 ends premium tax credit eligibility outright.
Benchmark premium and median wage for this occupation, ranked by premium.
| # | State | Benchmark @40 | Median wage | vs cliff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $414 | $57,820 | below |
| 2 | Virginia | $455 | $58,410 | below |
| 3 | Indiana | $474 | $49,280 | below |
| 4 | Nevada | $497 | $59,470 | below |
| 5 | Ohio | $513 | $56,990 | below |
| 6 | Michigan | $523 | $59,530 | below |
| 7 | Colorado | $557 | $59,190 | below |
| 8 | South Carolina | $564 | $50,720 | below |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $604 | $58,610 | below |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $611 | $62,470 | below |
| 11 | Georgia | $615 | $55,320 | below |
| 12 | North Carolina | $638 | $56,470 | below |
| 13 | Utah | $640 | $65,920 | above |
| 14 | Alabama | $645 | $48,880 | below |
| 15 | Illinois | $646 | $59,570 | below |
| 16 | South Dakota | $655 | $53,400 | below |
| 17 | Texas | $661 | $60,630 | below |
| 18 | Kansas | $670 | $57,760 | below |
| 19 | Florida | $683 | $56,830 | below |
| 20 | Nebraska | $710 | $64,410 | above |
| 21 | Arkansas | $774 | $49,990 | below |
This page compares states. For Ohio specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — that is published on Coverage by County. To check whether a plan actually covers your hospital, see Plans By City.
Put your ZIP code in and I will show you the carriers filing in your county, what the cheapest plan costs, and what you would actually pay after any help you qualify for. No cost, and you talk to me — not a call center.
Right now 11 carriers file plans across the 88 counties of Ohio. Participation is reset annually, which is why Counselors should check the roster in November rather than assume this year’s options carry over.
Nobody can tell you your 2027 Ohio premium yet. Filings nationally cluster around a 15% median increase, with the full spread running −1% to 54% — and until this state signs off, a specific local number is invention.
Mark November 1, 2026 to open and December 15 to act. That second date guarantees cover from January 1 in Ohio regardless of how the current litigation over the enrollment window resolves.
There is still no PPO on the Ohio marketplace — not in any of its 88 counties. Every plan is an HMO, EPO or POS, which for a counselor working across a wide area is the binding constraint, not price.
Because Ohio sells no PPO in any of its 88 counties, the thing that will decide your 2027 experience is which network your providers sit in — and that is far easier to check now than during the rush.
Give me a ZIP and I will tell you three things:
The sticker price is rarely what Counselors in Ohio end up paying. Start with a ZIP and I will work out your actual number.