National study: Ohio insurance premium cost lowest among large states

A new study of insurance premiums by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that Ohio has the lowest annual cost for both single coverage and family coverage among the 10 largest states in the country (Source: “How Health Insurance Premiums Vary by State,” Insurance Journal,  July 15, 2011).

According to the research, which is based on data from the 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the average annual cost of single coverage in Ohio is $4,669 and the national average is $4,940. New York has the highest single premiums at $5,220.

For family plans, Ohioans pay, on average, $13,083 a year, compared to a national average of $13,871 and a national high of $15,032 in Florida.