Ohio uses a 2-to-50 small-employer definition, and the statute counts eligible employees. Ohio Revised Code § 3924.01(M), as in effect following the April 9, 2025 revision, defines a small employer as an employer who employed an average of at least two but no more than 50 eligible employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least two employees on the first day of the plan year. That two-employee floor is the same kind of minimum Illinois and Texas use, and it is different from Florida's 1-to-50 full-time-equivalent rule.
The employer base
The Census Bureau's Statistics of U.S. Businesses for 2022 (state detailed-size file, released April 10, 2025) counts 172,413 Ohio employer firms with fewer than 50 employees, out of 187,289 employer firms in the state, with 1,144,245 paid employees at those under-50 firms and 4,963,808 at all Ohio employer firms. Under-50 firms were 92.1% of Ohio employer firms in that file, the lowest under-50 share among the eight states in this update, still the great majority of Ohio employer firms.
What official surveys say about cost
MEPS-IC 2025 Table II.A.2 reports that 34.0% of private-sector establishments at Ohio firms with fewer than 50 employees offered health insurance, compared with 92.6% at firms of 50 or more (54.0% of all Ohio establishments). The under-50 offer rate is above the national 32.1% figure. The all-establishment offer rate, 54.0%, is the highest among the eight states in this update. At under-50 firms, average annual premiums were $8,379 for single coverage and $20,726 for family coverage, with an average employee contribution of $2,206 for single coverage. National MEPS-IC 2025 under-50 averages were $9,034 for single coverage and $24,176 for family coverage, with a 32.1% offer rate at establishments of firms with fewer than 50 employees. The under-50 family premium is the lowest in this eight-state set. The under-50 family employee-contribution cell in Table II.D.2 is marked with an asterisk in the official file, so this page does not publish that figure. Those are statewide averages for enrolled employees at offering establishments, not a Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Dayton quote. See the cost of small-business health insurance.
A company that is not an applicable large employer is generally not required to offer health coverage under the ACA employer shared-responsibility rules. Some smaller employers still choose to offer a plan, or to use an ICHRA or QSEHRA, and some may qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit when the IRS size, wage, and SHOP rules are met.
Who sells small-group coverage
This update does not include a verified official 2026 Ohio small-group issuer list, so we will not invent one. The Ohio Department of Insurance is the official place to confirm licensed issuers. We will only compare products that can be issued for the Ohio counties and any other states on your roster. A national brand that sells small-group coverage in another state may not offer an Ohio fully insured small-group plan.
Continuation when someone leaves the plan
Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees. An official Ohio continuation period was not confirmed end-to-end in the research for this file, so this page does not state a state-specific duration. We will confirm any Ohio continuation rule with the Department of Insurance at proposal time. See COBRA for employers.
How we help an Ohio employer
You send a roster, work locations, what you offer today, and your renewal date if you have one. We confirm the market you sit in and compare a fully insured small-group plan, SHOP or a state small-business marketplace where one applies, a level-funded design, an ICHRA or QSEHRA, or coverage arranged through a PEO. The method is on how to compare group health plans. Request a proposal or call (813) 540-1299.Frequently asked questions
Is Ohio small-group coverage available to a one-employee firm?
Ohio Revised Code § 3924.01(M) uses an average of at least two but no more than 50 eligible employees, and at least two employees on the first day of the plan year. That is a different floor from Florida's 1-to-50 full-time-equivalent rule. We will apply the Ohio definition to an Ohio group.
Does Ares have an Ohio office?
No. The only address on this site is 5701 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610. Our agents are licensed in all 50 states, including Ohio.What does coverage cost for a small Ohio employer?
MEPS-IC 2025 under-50 averages for Ohio are $8,379 (single) and $20,726 (family) a year, among enrolled employees at offering establishments. The official under-50 family employee-contribution figure is asterisked and is not used on this page. Your quote is built from your census.
Can you list the carriers that sell small-group plans in Ohio?
Not as a complete official 2026 list in this update. We will confirm current issuers with official Ohio sources and compare only products that can be issued for your locations.
Do we have to offer coverage if we have fewer than 50 employees?
A company that is not an applicable large employer is generally not required to offer health coverage under the ACA employer shared-responsibility rules. See the employer coverage requirement page.
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