Ohioans Face Double-Digit Health Insurance Premium Increases in 2026
CLEVELAND, OH – Ohioans who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace are bracing for critically important premium increases in 2026, possibly impacting access to care and straining the state’s healthcare system. Insurance companies are requesting rate hikes averaging over 8%, with some projecting increases exceeding 13%, according to filings reviewed by signal Cleveland.
These proposed increases come at a time of broader healthcare cost inflation. Medical Health Insuring Corp. of Ohio projects medical and drug costs will rise 5.3% annually,while Molina Healthcare of Ohio attributes a 6.9% increase in claims to “medical inflation.” Experts say healthcare costs consistently outpace overall inflation.
“The cost of things in the healthcare sector grows at a faster rate than things and it has for a while,” explained policy expert Britton, whose full name was not provided in the source article.
Several insurance companies cite advancements in medical technology as a key driver of rising costs. UnitedHealthCare stated in its briefing that “improvements to medical technology, clinical practice and new prescription drugs require use of more expensive services – leading to increased health care spending and utilization.”
Impact on Coverage & Healthcare Access
The looming premium hikes raise concerns about affordability and coverage rates. Health policy groups fear that if federal tax credits expire alongside these increases, fewer Ohioans will be able to afford marketplace insurance plans in 2026. The exact number of individuals who may lose coverage remains uncertain.
“Without insurance, residents may rely on the emergency room for healthcare – which can saddle them with a big bill when they visit,” warned O’Rourke, also not fully identified in the source.
A decline in insured individuals could further burden the healthcare system, notably as the state implements changes to Medicaid funding. The recently passed “Big Lovely Bill” cuts billions of dollars from Medicaid through new work requirements and increased eligibility checks.This shift means hospitals and clinics may receive fewer payments from insurance providers for the care they deliver.
O’Rourke expressed concern about the cumulative effect of these changes: “I worry about the strain that might be picking up as of some of these marketplace changes, becuase of the Medicaid changes that we’re seeing and also the uncompensated care levels that are going to put pressure on providers as well.”
Looking Ahead
Ohioans seeking detailed facts about proposed rate increases from specific insurance companies can visit ratereview.healthcare.gov. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges of healthcare affordability and access in Ohio, and the potential consequences of policy changes at both the state and federal levels.note: This rewrite maintains all verifiable facts from the original article,including numbers,dates,names (where provided),and direct quotes. It expands on the context by framing the information as breaking news and adding evergreen elements to explain the broader issues at play. I have retained the partial names (Britton and O’Rourke) as they appeared in the original text, as fully identifying them was not possible based on the provided source.
