Medical Mutual of Ohio Review

Who Is Medical Mutual of Ohio?

Medical Mutual of Ohio, Cleveland, provides health insurance not only for average people but also some of the highest-profile Ohioans. For instance, it ensures home-team favorites, The Cleveland Browns NFL team, The Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team, and The Cleveland Indians MLB team.¹ 

These high-profile affiliations are one factor that makes Medical Mutual the largest healthcare provider in Ohio, insuring more than 1.6 million people.²

The company sells policies all over Ohio, and as of March 16, 2021, includes these counties: Auglaize, Putnam, Richland, Crawford, Ottawa, Erie, Hocking, Marion, Hancock, Hardin, Knox, Clark, Delaware, Clermont, Athens, Champaign, Warren, Miami, Preble, Butler, Franklin, Hamilton, Cuyahoga, Montgomery and Lucas.

Its home base is Cleveland’s historic Rose Building, completed in 1902. Its owner was Benjamin Rose, a Cleveland meatpacker who first developed the idea of shipping meat by refrigerated rail cars. The building was once the tallest building between New York City and Chicago.³

The precursor of Medical Mutual was formed in 1934 and known as the Cleveland Hospital Service Association. It was a prepaid plan that allowed members to make small payments in advance, thus after admission to the hospital most of their bills were paid. In 1957, Cleveland Hospital Service Association merged with a similar service in Akron, Ohio, to form Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio. Forty years later, the company left Blue Cross Blue Shield to become Medical Mutual of Ohio. ⁴

What Health Insurance Does Medical Mutual Offer?

Medical Mutual offers plans for people in most categories:

• It has six Medicare Supplement plans and has more than 135,000 Medicare Supplement members.
• It has more than 30,000 Medicare Advantage plan members. 
• Medical Mutual sells individual plans, including prescription drug plans, on and off the federal exchange. The plan options include HMO, PPO and high-deductible plans that are health-savings account (HSA) compatible. The company has more than 50,000 individual plan members through the Affordable Care Act.⁵ 
• It also sells group plans for small-to-large employers.⁶
• The company offers short-term health insurance plans with a 364-day duration, as well as dental and vision plans, and accident and critical illness plans for individuals younger than age 65.⁷

What Member Benefits Does the Company Provide?

Medical Mutual is a member-owned mutual insurance company — the company ownership is shared among policyholders, who get a part of any profits returned to them directly as either policyholder dividends or credits that reduce the cost of premiums. As a mutual company, it  does not need to meet the demands of stockholders or Wall Street analysts, says company Communications Director Victoria Kressler.

The insurer also offers some wellness benefits that can be valuable for: 

• Pregnant mothers. 
• People with chronic conditions. 
• Those who take a lot of medication. 
• Anyone interested in purchasing a gym membership.⁸

Medical Mutual also has extended its telehealth insurance benefits, and it offers a 24-hour nurse hotline for an additional monthly premium.⁹

How Do You Enroll in Coverage with Medical Mutual?

It’s easy. Shop and enroll online or call (844) 583-3072 and speak to a Medical Mutual licensed sales agent customer care specialist from 8AM- 8PM, EST, seven days a week. The company also works with independent licensed insurance agents. 

Generally, healthcare providers will file Medical Mutual claims directly, but if you have a special claim, such as a flexible savings account request or a dental or vision claim, find the correct form here. 

What Are Medical Mutual’s Consumer and Financial Ratings?

Medical Mutual’s overall profitability index is 7 out of 10, which is considered to be excellent, according to the Weiss Ratings. Its capitalization is a strong 10 based on current risk-adjusted capital (severe loss scenario). Liquidity is rated at 6.9 with sufficient resources (cash flows and marketable investments) to handle a spike in claims. The company’s investment portfolio is considered to be good, rated at 5 out of 10.¹⁰

Medical Mutual has more than 30,000 Medicare Advantage plan members. Its HMO plans have a 4-Star out of 5 ratings, and the PPO plans have the highest rating in Ohio at 4.5 stars.¹¹

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — regulators from all 50 states — report complaints about insurers, health, and otherwise. In 2020, Medical Mutual had 64 complaints. The largest number (15) related to plans managed by an employer. The next highest number (13) were by individuals of which seven related to HMOs.¹²

Next Steps

• Search the Medical Mutual online resources for the insurance you need.
• If you need help, contact the company via phone or email.
• Read and make sure you understand the policy. Health insurance is complex. If you have questions, ask and get the answers you need before you enroll.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthCareInsider.com or HealthCare, Inc.