Ohio's marketplace offers only HMO medical plans, but I can still arrange a nationwide PPO for you. Here's how agents earning commissions at closing choose coverage that works with income that changes throughout the year.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber. I'm licensed to broker health insurance in 36 states, and I help Ohio real estate agents arrange coverage by phone. That includes agents selling Cleveland condos and those handling farmhouses near Findlay.
Ohio gives real estate agents a somewhat unusual set of choices. Every medical plan available through HealthCare.gov in the state is an HMO. But Ohio also expanded Medicaid, which can provide coverage during a difficult income year when agents in some other states have fewer choices. Both of those details are important when your earnings depend on individual closings rather than a regular paycheck.
There are 189 individual medical plans on Ohio's marketplace this year, and every one is an HMO. You won't find an EPO or PPO there. HMO coverage generally excludes nonemergency treatment outside its network, which can be limiting when your real estate work involves conferences or you spend winters in another state.
A nationwide PPO is still available to you in Ohio, just not through HealthCare.gov. I can arrange private coverage that requires medical underwriting, with premiums determined by your health questionnaire. Its provider network extends nationwide, and you can visit specialists without referrals. If you're in good health, let's compare that with an HMO before you commit.
In Ohio, your household's projected income for the coverage year determines which of three categories applies. Adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level may qualify for expanded Medicaid. Above that range, marketplace premium tax credits can help. Once your income exceeds the credit limit, you're responsible for the entire premium.
When you're a self-employed real estate agent, your income is the commission you keep after paying the brokerage split, MLS and board fees, advertising, photography and mileage costs. Sales don't necessarily close evenly throughout the year, so your income can begin in one range and end up in a different one.
Getting your income projection right matters, especially because excess premium credits for tax years after 2025 must be repaid without any cap.
A HealthCare.gov plan will usually cost you less here because premium credits can only be applied to marketplace coverage. Since every available plan is an HMO, check each network for your doctors before focusing on monthly premiums.
Don't leave your income projection unchanged after a major closing. Report the money when the transaction funds, rather than discovering at tax time that you owe the entire excess credit back.
Next step: Have your previous year's tax return and a list of pending transactions ready. We'll estimate your income and find an HMO network that includes your physicians.
Once you're above the credit limit, an HMO costs its full premium and generally won't cover nonemergency out-of-network treatment. Healthy top-producing agents and team leaders can often find better pricing with private coverage.
Private underwriting begins with questions about your health history. The insurer can approve your application, reject it, or approve it while excluding a particular condition. Agents in good health often receive nationwide in-network access for less than the marketplace's full premium. Since benefits differ between policies, we'll go through those details together.
Next step: Call me and I'll put a nationwide PPO quote alongside the HMO options available to your household in your Ohio county.
Ohio offers more protection during a low-income year than many other states. Adults with income no higher than 138% of the federal poverty level may qualify for Medicaid, and applications are accepted throughout the year rather than during a specific enrollment period. Medicaid eligibility generally prevents you from receiving marketplace premium credits at the same time, so these programs serve different income situations.
For a commission-based agent, even a single completed sale might move household income from Medicaid eligibility into the marketplace credit range. When that happens, report the change and transition to marketplace coverage.
Next step: If commissions aren't adding up this year, call me. We'll check whether your income falls within Medicaid eligibility and plan for what happens when another sale closes.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
No, not through the medical marketplace. Ohio's 189 individual HealthCare.gov medical plans are all HMOs. I can help healthy agents purchase nationwide PPO coverage privately.
There's a good chance. Ohio expanded Medicaid to eligible adults with income up to 138% of the poverty level, and Medicaid applications aren't limited to an enrollment season.
You could owe back the additional credit, with no repayment limit for tax years after 2025. Report large closings to HealthCare.gov as they happen.
Not usually. More than half of real estate agents nationwide work for themselves on commission, meaning most agents in Ohio arrange their own insurance.
Tell me where you're located in Ohio, who needs insurance, and roughly what you earned after brokerage splits. I'll compare Medicaid, marketplace coverage and a nationwide PPO, including their costs, so we can identify the best fit.
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