How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Ohio?

Ohio has approximately 2.4M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 52% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Ohio Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Ohio · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Ohio Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Ohio?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Ohio include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Medical Mutual of Ohio, CareSource, and Buckeye Health Plan (Centene). Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Ohio has approximately 2.4M Medicare beneficiaries — about 52% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Medical Mutual of Ohio, CareSource, and Buckeye Health Plan (Centene).

Talk to a licensed Ohio Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

2.4M

Ohio Medicare beneficiaries

~52%

on Medicare Advantage in OH

All 88

Ohio counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Ohio

For most Ohioans, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Ohio

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Ohio metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Ohio MA plans are HMOs with local networks including Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth, University Hospitals, Mercy Health, ProMedica, Premier Health. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Ohio

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Ohio Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Ohio

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Anthem BCBS & Medical Mutual

Anthem is Ohio's Blue plan, with deep statewide presence. Medical Mutual is the state's largest Ohio-domiciled health insurer, with a strong Medicare Advantage and Medigap footprint built around Cleveland Clinic and other Northeast Ohio systems.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers have strong Medicare Advantage presence across Ohio, especially in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo. UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap plans are popular with Ohio seniors.

Aetna & CareSource

Aetna offers competitive $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio metros. CareSource (Ohio-headquartered) is strong in the Medicare-Medicaid dual eligible (D-SNP) segment.

Buckeye Health Plan (Centene/WellCare)

Part of WellCare/Centene, with a strong Ohio Part D footprint and competitive D-SNP options.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Ohio

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Ohio Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Ohio has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Ohio Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Walmart, Giant Eagle, Costco, Meijer). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Ohio beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Ohio

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Ohio Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Ohio, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Ohio Medicare FAQ

Are there Ohio-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Ohio is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Ohio Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth, University Hospitals, Mercy Health, ProMedica, Premier Health are common in Ohio — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Ohio fit.

Coverage

Ohio counties we cover

All 88 Ohio counties. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

Franklin (Columbus) Cuyahoga (Cleveland) Hamilton (Cincinnati) Summit (Akron) Montgomery (Dayton) Lucas (Toledo) Stark Butler Lorain Mahoning Lake Warren Clermont Medina Greene Wood Trumbull Delaware Licking Fairfield + 68 more

★★★★★

$1,440 / yr saved

on a Cleveland Clinic-friendly Medicare switch · Cleveland, OH

"My old plan was dropping Cleveland Clinic. SilverEdge found me a Medical Mutual plan that kept all my Cleveland Clinic doctors AND covered my new diabetes meds. Same monthly cost."

David G.

Network-driven MA switch · Cleveland, OH

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