Compare 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans in Ohio

If you have a Wellcare plan in Ohio that is not a Special Needs Plan, it is ending December 31, 2026. Other members whose plans are ending should have received a non-renewal letter in early October.

Source: CMS 2027 landscape data as reported by Becker’s, October 1, 2026, and company announcements. Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi are also exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027.

National figures: CMS 2027 landscape data as reported by Becker’s, October 1, 2026. Availability varies by county.

Write down the same numbers for two or three finalists. The plan that covers your doctors and drugs at the lowest realistic yearly cost is usually the right one, whichever company offers it.

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. The plan covers everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, except hospice care, which Original Medicare still pays. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage, and many may add extras such as routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

In exchange, Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require referrals or prior authorization for some services. Every Medicare Advantage plan has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, which Original Medicare does not have. You keep paying your Part B premium, plus your plan’s premium if it has one.

If you prefer Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan pays some or all of what Medicare leaves behind, and lets you see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. Benefits are standardized by plan letter, so compare prices for the same letter across insurers.

Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. Prices vary by insurer, age, ZIP code and tobacco use.

If you keep Original Medicare in Ohio, add a standalone Part D plan. Compare plans with your exact drugs and pharmacies using the 2027 Part D plan finder.

A Medicare Supplement plan is built to cover the gaps in Original Medicare. These are the costs it can pick up:

Most people new to Medicare choose one of these three. Plan G covers every gap except the Part B deductible. Plan N trades a lower premium for copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that do not lead to admission, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. High-Deductible Plan G has a $3,050 deductible for 2027, up from $2,950, then covers like Plan G. See Plan G vs Plan N.

The method depends on the insurer and the state. Ask how a policy is priced before you buy, not just what it costs today.

Medicare rates every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan from 1 to 5 stars each fall, based on things like preventive care, how well the plan manages chronic conditions, member complaints, customer service and drug pricing accuracy. The ratings are shown in Medicare Plan Finder.

Sometimes a drug you take is not on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it carries a rule like prior authorization. You still have options:

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

Federal law sets exactly what each plan letter covers, so the same letter has the same benefits from every insurer in your state.

*Plans C and F can only be bought by people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. **Plans K and L have a yearly out-of-pocket limit that Medicare sets each year; after you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. ***Plan N pays all Part B coinsurance except copays of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for emergency room visits that do not lead to an inpatient admission. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.

Federal law also gives you guaranteed issue rights in certain situations, generally within 63 days after other coverage ends:

Ohio’s largest metro areas, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Akron, generally have the most Medicare Advantage choices, with a mix of HMOs and PPOs. Rural counties in Appalachian and northwestern Ohio have fewer plans, and the 2027 cuts are more likely to leave members there with only a handful of choices.

If you live near a state line, such as in the Cincinnati area, check whether the plans you are considering cover the hospitals you use across the border in Kentucky or Indiana.

If you keep Original Medicare in Ohio, compare standalone Part D plans with your exact drugs and pharmacy. For 2027, the maximum Part D deductible is $700 and the out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 on every plan, but premiums and drug costs vary widely between plans.

If you are turning 65 in Ohio in 2027, sign up for Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, then choose between a Medicare Advantage plan and Original Medicare with a Medigap and Part D plan. Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the one time insurers cannot use your health to deny you or charge more.

If your plan will not be offered in your county for 2027, you should have received a non-renewal notice in early October. Your coverage does not stop right away: it continues through December 31, 2026, so you have time to choose.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for specific groups. Benefits, networks and drug lists are designed around the members they serve, and many include care coordinators. For 2027, Special Needs Plans are one of the few areas where large insurers are adding plans, even as they cut PPOs.

If you turn 65 in 2027, your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three months after. Signing up during the first three months means your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

If your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply:

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

Ohio’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program), offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE any time or compare plans with a licensed agent at no cost.

Before any call, have your Medicare card, your list of drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies ready. It turns a long conversation into a short one.