Large-group buying power for Ohio's small employers.
The Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program (OCHBP) is a self-funded MEWA sponsored by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce — administered by Medical Mutual beginning January 1, 2027 — built so employers with 2–50 employees can offer health benefits that rival much larger companies'.
Program administration transition — January 1, 2027
Effective January 1, 2027, Medical Mutual — Ohio's Hometown Health Insurer — becomes the third-party administrator (TPA) and stop-loss carrier for the Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program. UnitedHealthcare continues to administer coverage through December 31, 2026.
The transition is expected to be seamless for participating employers and their employees: no change in funding arrangement, and continued access to familiar plan designs aligned with the program's existing structure. Updates, FAQs, and support materials will be shared as they become available.
What the program is — precisely
The OCHBP is a self-funded, non-plan multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) sponsored by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Health benefits are provided to eligible employers by the OCHBP Trust, and the program's administrator provides claims administration and stop-loss protection to the Trust — Medical Mutual beginning January 1, 2027.
In plain English: many Ohio small employers pool together, and that pool is large enough to be priced and administered the way big companies are. As a Chamber member with 2–50 eligible employees, your group can access health benefits with rates and premiums usually available to much larger companies.
There is no national equivalent to this program. It exists for one reason: the Ohio Chamber built it for its members.
The program at a glance
- Ohio employers with 2–50 eligible employees
- Requires Ohio Chamber of Commerce membership — we walk you through joining
- ACA-compliant plans; familiar plan designs aligned with the program's existing structure through the 2027 administration transition
- Claims administration and stop-loss protection provided to the OCHBP Trust — Medical Mutual beginning January 1, 2027
- Beginning January 1, 2027: SuperMed Plus PPO network in Ohio, with out-of-state coverage through Cigna's PPO network
- Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by participating employers
- You remain the employer — no co-employment
The pooling advantage — without a PEO
PEOs and payroll bundlers offer small employers scale too — by becoming the co-employer of your workforce. The OCHBP is our answer to that model: the buying power, without the strings.
The PEO / payroll-bundle path
- A third party co-employs your people
- Benefits tied to their payroll platform
- Leaving means untangling employment itself
The OCHBP path
- You stay the employer — period
- Keep your payroll, your handbook, your culture
- Large-group economics through the member pool
What employees actually get
A big-company benefits experience delivered to a ten-person shop — backed by an established carrier and the pooled scale of the member program.
Care access
The SuperMed Plus PPO network across Ohio, with out-of-state coverage through Cigna’s PPO network — beginning January 1, 2027 under Medical Mutual, Ohio’s Hometown Health Insurer.
Locally based service
Medical Mutual brings extensive experience serving employers across Ohio, with locally based service, underwriting expertise, and dedicated account support.
Continuity you can count on
Familiar plan designs aligned with the program’s existing structure — the 2027 administration transition is designed to be seamless for employees.
Getting a quote is simpler than you'd guess
1. Send a census
For groups with five or more enrolling, quoting starts with a simple employee census — no applications. We give you the template and a secure way to send it.
2. See the comparison
We come back with OCHBP pricing next to your current plan and the broader market, so the decision is made on real numbers.
3. Join and enroll
If the program wins, we walk you through Chamber membership and handle enrollment end to end.
OCHBP questions, answered plainly
What is a MEWA?
A multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) is an arrangement that covers employers with 2 to 50 employees. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is the sponsor of the Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program (OCHBP), a self-funded non-plan MEWA that allows smaller companies to access health benefits with rates and premiums usually available to larger companies. Health benefits under the OCHBP are provided to eligible employers by the OCHBP Trust. Claims administration and stop-loss protection are provided to the OCHBP Trust by the program’s third-party administrator — UnitedHealthcare through December 31, 2026, and Medical Mutual beginning January 1, 2027.
Who is eligible?
Any Ohio Chamber member company located in Ohio and in good standing with 2 to 50 eligible employees may apply. Chamber membership is a requirement of participation — and if you are not a member yet, our team walks you through joining as part of the quoting process.
How does the OCHBP Trust work?
The Trust harnesses economies of scale that allow small businesses to band together and obtain health benefits at rates comparable to larger self-funded single employers. Each participating employer sponsors its own group health plan under ERISA and takes on certain responsibilities under state and federal benefits law — including reporting, disclosure, and fiduciary provisions. Participating employers are able to leverage the expertise of the program’s benefits administrator in meeting those obligations, and OCIA helps you understand what applies to you. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by participating employers.
Is this a PEO? Will we co-employ our people?
No. This is the key difference: with a PEO, a third party becomes the co-employer of your workforce. Under the OCHBP, you remain the employer, full stop — you get the pooling advantage without handing over your people.
Is this like other “chamber plans” or association plans we’ve been pitched?
Fair question — the market has seen thin “association discount” products, and skepticism is healthy. The OCHBP is not a discount card or an association health plan: it is a regulated, self-funded MEWA whose claims administration and stop-loss protection are provided by an established carrier — Medical Mutual, Ohio’s Hometown Health Insurer, beginning January 1, 2027. Ask us anything about how it is structured — precision on this is a point of pride.
What does it cost to find out if we qualify?
Nothing. For most groups, quoting starts with a simple employee census — no applications required for groups with five or more enrolling. You will see real numbers next to your current plan before you make any decision.
This page is a general description of the Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program and is not a contract, a guarantee of savings, or legal or tax advice. Refer to the Certificate of Coverage and plan documents for exact coverage terms. Program administration transitions from UnitedHealthcare to Medical Mutual effective January 1, 2027.
Find out what the pool would do for your group.
A census and a few days — that's all it takes to see OCHBP pricing next to what you pay today.
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