Medicare Advantage Plans Ohio Residents Can Choose in 2027

Medicare Advantage plans Ohio residents can pick from for 2027 are fewer but cheaper on average. Ohio has 2.6 million people on Medicare, and the state loses 32 plans for 2027. This guide uses the newest federal and Ohio data to show what changed, what to do if your plan is leaving, how Ohio’s Medigap rules work if you want to switch back, and where to get free help from OSHIIP and Ohio Medicaid.

Medicare Advantage plans Ohio residents can choose in 2027

CMS published an Ohio fact sheet on September 28, 2026. It says 2,630,753 Ohioans are enrolled in Medicare. Here are its figures for the Medicare Advantage plans Ohio residents can buy, plus drug plans:

A dash means the fact sheet gives no 2026 figure. Figures are from the CMS Ohio fact sheet as of September 28, 2026, and are shown for illustration only. They are not quotes or offers, and they can change. Confirm current numbers with Medicare or a licensed agent.

Ohio loses 32 plans, a drop of about 15%. That is far steeper than the national picture: CMS’s 2027 press release counts 5,553 plans nationally in 2026 and about 5,532 in 2027. The Ohio average premium falls 26%, from $12.12 to $9.00, while the national average falls from $14.37 to $12.00. CMS also says 100% of Ohioans in a stand-alone drug plan can find one with a lower premium than in 2026.

Hypothetical example: an Ohio resident pays the state’s average Medicare Advantage premium both years. In 2026 that is $12.12 x 12 = $145.44. In 2027 it is $9.00 x 12 = $108.00, a saving of $145.44 − $108.00 = $37.44. Adding the 2026 Part B premium of $202.90 x 12 = $2,434.80 gives $2,434.80 + $108.00 = $2,542.80 in yearly premiums. CMS had not set the 2027 Part B premium when we wrote this, and copays come on top, up to the plan’s out-of-pocket limit.

If your Ohio Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing

With 32 fewer plans, some Ohio members received a non-renewal letter this fall. If you did, your plan ends December 31, 2026. You have three main paths:

• Another plan. Pick from the Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers still sell in your county, and check that your doctors are in network for 2027.
• Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy and a drug plan. Ohio Medigap guaranteed issue rules, below, can protect you here.
• Do nothing. You return to Original Medicare on January 1 with no drug coverage. That is rarely the best choice.

Medicare.gov says that when a plan’s contract isn’t renewed, you can switch from December 8 to the last day of February. Choosing by December 31 avoids a gap. Our guide on what to do when a Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing walks through the timeline. Going 63 days or more without drug coverage can trigger a lifelong Part D penalty, so add a drug plan if you move to Original Medicare.

Ohio Medigap guaranteed issue when you leave Medicare Advantage

Ohio Medigap guaranteed issue matters most when a plan ends. Outside protected windows, insurers can ask health questions and turn you down. Ohio’s Medicare supplement rule, Ohio Adm. Code 3901-8-08 (effective May 1, 2023), lists the times they cannot. In paragraph (O), “eligible persons” include people whose Medicare Advantage plan ends because the plan’s certification ends or the company leaves the area.

For people losing coverage involuntarily, the window begins when you get the termination notice and ends 63 days after coverage ends. In that window an insurer cannot deny you, price the policy on your health, or exclude pre-existing conditions. The rule also restates the federal trial rights:

• You joined Medicare Advantage at 65 when you first got Part A, and you leave within 12 months.
• You dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, and you leave within 12 months. You can generally get your old policy back if the same insurer still sells it.

Ohio goes one step further than the federal list. Its 2023 amendment covers people who lose a state Medicaid plan that supplemented Medicare. The guaranteed plans are A, B, C, F, K and L, with D and G in place of C and F for anyone new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Our Medicare supplement underwriting guide explains what happens outside these windows.

Medigap in Ohio if you are under 65

Ohioans who get Medicare early because of a disability or kidney failure face a gap. Ohio law does not currently make Medigap insurers sell to people under 65. House Bill 24 would require insurers that sell Medigap to people 65 and older to offer the same coverage to younger enrollees with disabilities or end-stage renal disease. The legislature’s status page shows it was referred to the Insurance Committee on January 28, 2025, with no later action.

Until a law passes, many under-65 Ohioans rely on Medicare Advantage. Their federal Medigap open enrollment comes later: a six-month window when they turn 65 and have Part B. If you are in this group, compare Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers offer carefully each fall, because switching to Medigap before 65 may not be possible.

Next Generation MyCare Ohio for people with Medicaid and Medicare

If you have both full Medicaid and Medicare, look at Next Generation MyCare Ohio before the regular Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers sell to everyone. Ohio Medicaid says the program combines both into one plan. It began January 1, 2026, in the 29 counties served by the original MyCare program, then rolled out to the rest of Ohio between April 1 and August 1, 2026.

To qualify, Ohio Medicaid says you need full Medicaid, Medicare Parts A, B and D, and must be 21 or older. You cannot already be in PACE, a developmental disabilities waiver or an intermediate care facility. Three plans are open statewide: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource and Molina HealthCare of Ohio. Buckeye Health Plan is not an option for new members in 2026. To choose or change a plan, call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680. Our guide to Medicare Special Needs Plans explains how these plans differ from regular ones.

Help with Medicare costs in Ohio

CMS says 22.08% of Ohioans in a stand-alone drug plan get Extra Help. Many more may qualify for the Medicare Savings Programs. The Ohio Department of Insurance cost-saving programs page publishes these 2026 monthly income limits (including a $20 disregard):

Limits are as published by the Ohio Department of Insurance for 2026, shown for illustration only. They are not offers and can change. Confirm with your county Department of Job and Family Services, which takes the Medicaid application. OSHIIP Medicare counseling can also help you apply. Our Extra Help guide covers the drug-cost side.

How to compare Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers offer

Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and choices start January 1, 2027, per CMS. With 32 fewer plans statewide, start by checking whether yours continues. Then:

1. List your care. Write down doctors, hospitals, your pharmacy and each drug with its dose.
2. Use Medicare Plan Finder. It lists the Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers offer at your ZIP code. Enter your drugs and sort by total yearly cost, not premium alone.
3. Call your providers. Ask whether they will be in network for 2027, not just 2026.
4. Check the out-of-pocket maximum, referral rules and prior authorization.
5. Price the Medigap route if you are inside a guaranteed issue window.
6. Check income-related charges. Our IRMAA calculator estimates extra Part B and Part D amounts for higher earners.

New to Medicare? Our Medicare enrollment calculator shows your windows. Our Medicare Part C guide explains plan types, and the Annual Enrollment Period guide covers the fall window. If you choose a plan and regret it, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 allows one change.

Checklist for Ohio Medicare shoppers

• Read your Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter.
• If your plan is ending, pick new coverage by December 31.
• Keep the termination notice: Ohio insurers need proof for guaranteed issue.
• Confirm each doctor and hospital is in network for 2027, by phone.
• Check your drugs on the 2027 formulary and their tiers.
• Compare out-of-pocket maximums, not just premiums.
• If you have full Medicaid, ask about Next Generation MyCare Ohio.
• If your income is limited, apply for a Medicare Savings Program.
• Save your confirmation number and new ID card.

Medicare Advantage plans Ohio: frequently asked questions

How many Medicare Advantage plans are there in Ohio for 2027?

CMS counts 180 plans for 2027, down from 212 in 2026. Fewer are sold in any single county. Medicare Plan Finder shows the exact list for your ZIP code.

Can I get a $0-premium plan in Ohio?

Yes. CMS says 100% of Ohioans with Medicare can get a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan in 2027. You still pay the Part B premium and copays.

Does Ohio have a Medigap birthday rule?

We found no birthday or anniversary switching right in the guaranteed issue section of Ohio’s Medicare supplement rule. Your protected chances to buy Medigap are the open enrollment period at 65 and the guaranteed issue situations in Ohio Adm. Code 3901-8-08.

How does Ohio Medigap guaranteed issue work if my plan leaves my county?

Yes. Ohio’s rule treats you as an eligible person when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves the area. You have until 63 days after coverage ends to buy Plan A, B, D, G, K or L (or C or F if you were eligible before 2020) without health questions.

Who runs free Medicare counseling in Ohio?

OSHIIP, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, part of the Ohio Department of Insurance. OSHIIP Medicare counseling is free and unbiased; the hotline is 800-686-1578. Counselors cover Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D and cost-saving programs.

Is Next Generation MyCare available in my county?

Ohio Medicaid says the rollout reached the rest of the state between April 1 and August 1, 2026. Call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680 to confirm and choose a plan.

Compare your Ohio options with a licensed agent

Octans Insurance is an independent agency. Our licensed agents work with 120+ carriers and can compare the Medicare Advantage plans Ohio carriers offer in your county with Medigap options, at no fee to you. Call (617) 935-9220. For free, unbiased OSHIIP Medicare counseling, call 800-686-1578, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Planning beyond health coverage? Our Ohio life insurance guide covers the state’s life insurance rules.

Keep Reading: Related Guides

• Life insurance in Ohio
• Medicare Part C
• Medicare Advantage plan not renewing
• Medicare enrollment calculator
• Ohio Medicaid burial rules
• Free Medicare help in Ohio
• Unclaimed life insurance in Ohio

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

This article is for general information and is not tax, legal, or medical advice.

Compare 2027 Medicare Options With a Licensed Agent

Start with a free, no-obligation quote review with a licensed Octans agent.

GET YOUR FREE QUOTE

(617) 935-9220 | life@octansinsurance.com