CareSource and Molina Are Leaving Ohio's ACA Marketplace in 2027

Coverage Alert • Ohio

CareSource and Molina Are Leaving Ohio's ACA Marketplace in 2027

Fast take: If you have a CareSource or Molina individual plan in Ohio, it won't renew for 2027 — coverage ends December 31, 2026. Together they cover about 54,000 Ohioans who now need a new plan. Most brokers will just move you to another marketplace plan; we're one of a limited number of agents who also offer private nationwide PPO plans — priced on your health, with a broader network — and we compare both so you land on the right fit, not a computer's auto-assignment.

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What sets us apart: anyone can put you back on the marketplace — every broker has it, and you can self-enroll. What most agents can't offer is a private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO: priced on your health instead of your income, with a broad national network and year-round enrollment. For a healthy Ohio household or anyone above the subsidy line, it's frequently the better — and cheaper — way to replace a CareSource or Molina plan. We're one of the few who compare both for you.

Dec 31, 2026When your CareSource or Molina plan in Ohio ends

~54,000Ohioans losing a CareSource or Molina plan

2 carriersLeaving Ohio for 2027: CareSource & Molina

What's happening in Ohio

For 2027, both CareSource and Molina are leaving Ohio's individual marketplace. CareSource is exiting the Ohio individual market entirely at the end of 2026, and Molina will no longer offer on-exchange plans. Together they cover roughly 54,000 Ohioans, all of whom will need to choose a new plan during open enrollment. Employer group and Medicaid products are handled separately — this affects individual and family marketplace coverage.

What's left in Ohio for 2027

The good news: Ohio still has a crowded marketplace. At least eight insurers plan to offer 2027 plans — including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Mutual, Buckeye (Centene), Oscar, Summa, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, and new entrant AmeriHealth Caritas. Most Ohio counties will have three or more carriers to choose from. The statewide average rate increase is around 10.7% — more moderate than many states — but your specific premium, network, and drug coverage depend on which plan you pick. From Columbus and Cleveland to Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, and Dayton, it pays to compare every option — marketplace and private PPO — rather than accept whatever plan you're defaulted into.

Your two ways to replace it

Private nationwide PPO

• Offered by only a limited number of agents — we're one
• Priced on your health, not your income — often cheaper if you're healthy or above the subsidy line
• Broad nationwide PPO network, no referrals, enroll year-round
• Medically underwritten — not everyone qualifies

A new marketplace (ACA) plan

• Best if your income qualifies you for a subsidy
• Guaranteed issue — no health questions
• Any subsidy you get today carries to the new plan
• Networks are often narrower (HMO/EPO), with referrals

The risk if you do nothing: when a carrier leaves, the marketplace may auto-move you to a "similar" plan chosen by a computer — one that may drop your doctor in Ohio, cut a medication, or cost more. On January 1, 2027 you could be on a plan you never picked — and miss the private PPO option entirely.

What you should do now

• 1. Don't wait for the auto-switch. Choose your own 2027 coverage during open enrollment.
• 2. Compare both. Weigh a private nationwide PPO against a new marketplace plan — premium, network, and total cost.
• 3. Match it to your doctors and prescriptions. Confirm your providers in Ohio are covered before you enroll.
• 4. Enroll before Dec 15 so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.

Key dates for 2027 coverage

Deadlines that matter

• Dec 31, 2026 — your CareSource or Molina plan ends
• Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 — open enrollment (marketplace)
• Dec 15, 2026 — enroll by this date for Jan 1 coverage (no gap)

Good to know

• Private nationwide PPO plans enroll year-round — not tied to open enrollment
• Every marketplace plan is guaranteed-issue — no denial for pre-existing conditions
• Many of the same Ohio doctors appear across multiple carriers' networks

Losing a plan in another state too? See our CareSource Indiana 2027 guide or the full Cigna 2027 exit overview.

Losing your CareSource or Molina plan in Ohio? See the option most brokers can't show you.

We compare private nationwide PPO plans and marketplace options in Ohio — matched to your doctors, prescriptions, and budget — at no cost to you.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a new marketplace plan my only option?

No. Besides a new marketplace (ACA) plan, you can replace a CareSource or Molina plan with a private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO, which only a limited number of agents offer. It's priced on your health, uses a broad national network, and is often cheaper if you're healthy or above the subsidy line. We compare both.

Which carriers are in Ohio for 2027?

CareSource and Molina are leaving, but at least eight insurers remain — including Anthem BCBS, Medical Mutual, Buckeye (Centene), Oscar, Summa, and UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, plus new entrant AmeriHealth Caritas. Most counties have three or more carriers to choose from.

When does my CareSource or Molina plan end?

December 31, 2026. Neither will renew your individual plan for 2027.

Will I lose my doctors or my subsidy?

Not necessarily. Many of the same doctors are in other carriers' networks, and any marketplace subsidy carries to a new marketplace plan. A private PPO uses a broad national network. The key is comparing both before you enroll.

Does it cost anything to work with an advisor?

No. A licensed independent advisor is paid by the carriers, so there's no fee to you for help comparing private PPO and marketplace plans and enrolling.

Robert Adams

President & Licensed Agent, RKA Insurance Advisors · NPN 19540130 · (561) 806-9913

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized advice. Carrier participation, pricing, and enrollment dates for 2027 are based on public rate filings and announcements (Ohio Department of Insurance; KFF) and are subject to change; confirm details for your county before enrolling. RKA Insurance Advisors is an independent, licensed health insurance brokerage specializing in private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO plans in addition to ACA marketplace coverage. Private plans are not ACA-compliant and are subject to medical underwriting — not all applicants qualify. We do not offer Medicare. This content does not constitute insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice.