Same-sex marriage refers to lawful marriage between spouses of the same sex. Same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.).
As long as a same-sex couple is married in a jurisdiction with legal authority to authorize the marriage, a health insurance company that offers health coverage to opposite-sex spouses must do the same for same-sex spouses.
The federal Health Insurance Marketplace® also treats married same-sex couples the same as married opposite-sex couples in every state when they apply for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans.
In Ohio, same-sex marriage is legal and recognized, in line with the nationwide legalization that occurred following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. This landmark case, which originated in Ohio, established that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Consequently, health insurance companies in Ohio that provide coverage to opposite-sex spouses are required to offer the same coverage to same-sex spouses. This includes eligibility for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace®. Same-sex married couples are treated the same as opposite-sex married couples for the purposes of health insurance coverage and benefits in every state, including Ohio.