Ohio is the seventh-most populous State in the US, with over 11.8 million residents. A whopping 2.5 million Ohio residents are enrolled in Medicare plans, which make up about 20% of the State’s population.
Over 2.8 million residents in Ohio are aged 60 and above, making up one-quarter of the total population. Since Ohio’s life expectancy is 75, medical insurance plans are essential for lowering healthcare bills for senior residents. Inflation, high healthcare bills, and comprehensive care result in skyrocketing bills.
Routine checkups under such circumstances become quite expensive. For most senior residents in Ohio, Medicare has become a go-to option for affording the increasing expenses associated with old-age healthcare.
The total number of people enrolled in Medicare is about 2.5 million, out of which 600,000 Ohio Medicare beneficiaries have Medigap coverage, also called a Medicare Supplement plan.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio
Medicare Supplement plan, also called Medigap, is an optional plan providing coverage for what’s not covered under Original Medicare Part A and B. Medigap provides additional health insurance to lower your out-of-pocket costs, which include deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
In Ohio, 12 standardized Medigap plans are sold by private health insurance companies. These are denoted by different alphabets (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N).
Plan G is the most popular Medicare Supplement plan in Ohio, with 41% of Medigap enrollees. Medigap plan F is the second most popular supplement plan in Ohio. However, you can only enroll in Medigap plan F if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020. Plan F is a high-deductible plan.
According to the rules and regulations set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), every plan must provide beneficiaries with the same coverage under the same plan. This is called standardization of plans.
Medigap plans cover out-of-pocket expenses, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
- Deductibles are costs that you cover before Medicare provides coverage for health services. Thus, deductibles apply to all Medicare Parts.
- A copayment is like a fixed payment for a doctor’s visit. This amount is paid after you pay your deductibles.
- Coinsurance is a cost-sharing method in which you pay a percentage of the total amount for specific services after paying your deductibles. Your insurance plan covers the rest of the cost.
Medigap in Ohio is not offered to people under age 65 who are enrolled in Medicare due to a disability. You must look into your provider’s supplement plan before enrolling to know more details.
General Analysis of Medicare Supplement Plan Providers in Ohio
| Insurance Company | Plan types offered | Share of Ohio Medigap members |
| UnitedHealthcare | A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N. | 35% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | A, B, C, F, G, K, and N. | 13.5% |
| Aetna | A, B, C, D, F, G and N. | — |
| Humana | A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N | 6% |
| Cigna | A, F, G, and N | — |
Types of Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio
As of 2024, Ohioans have ten Medigap plans to choose from. The most common plans are F and G. However, Plan F can only be purchased if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020.
In Ohio, 65-year-old consumers pay $106 per month on average for a Medicare Supplement plan, while 75-year-olds pay around $175.
The next most popular is Plan N, which offers similar coverage to Plans F and G but with additional charges. The average cost of a Plan N is $105.50 per month for a 65-year-old and $173.68 at age 75.
All Medigap policies are standardized, meaning that Plan N provides the same core benefits regardless of the insurance provider. However, Plan N does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible or Part B excess charges anywhere in the State.
Cost Breakdown of Three Most Popular Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans in Ohio
The most popular Medigap plans in Ohio are Medigap Plan F, G, and N. The cost for these plans varies. Here’s a detailed cost breakdown for these popular Medigap plans.
Medicare Supplement Plan F
In Ohio, there are 47 companies offering Medicare Supplement Plan F. The availability and monthly premiums vary depending on an individual’s age, sex, health status, and location.
Despite being one of the most popular Medigap plans across Ohio, Medigap Plan F is no longer available to new applicants. Beneficiaries who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, can sign up for plan F. People who already have plan F can keep it. In Ohio, Medicare recipients pay an average of $202.40 per month for Plan F.
Medicare Supplement Plan G
There are 48 companies offering Plan G Medicare Supplement in Ohio. Medigap Plan G is one of the most popular Medicare Supplement plans for those not eligible for Plan F.
Plan G offers extensive coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, with premiums and availability depending on factors such as age, sex, tobacco use, location, and health status.
However, it does not cover the Part B deductible. In Ohio, Medicare recipients pay an average of $135.40 per month for Medigap Plan G.
Medicare Supplement Plan N
About 48 companies offer Plan N in Ohio. The average cost of Medicare Supplement Plan N is $139.60 per month. This plan requires some out-of-pocket payments. However, it does provide comprehensive coverage. The availability and monthly premiums vary based on factors such as age, gender, tobacco use, and location.
Cost Determination of Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio
Location, age, and insurance provider are some cost-determining factors for Medicare Supplement plans. Therefore, different counties have different prices for popular plans such as Medigap Plan F, G, and N. For example, Medicare Supplement in Hamilton County has premiums ranging from as low as $78.21 to as high as $171.81.
Medigap prices are determined in three ways.
- Community-rated: Everyone with the Medigap policy pays the same monthly premium, regardless of age.
- Issue age-rated: With this type of Medigap policy, the premium is based on your age when you first purchase the policy. The younger you are at the time of purchase, the lower your premium will be. The benefit of this rating system is that your premium won’t increase as you age. However, your premium may still go up due to inflation, healthcare cost increases, or changes in the insurance provider’s pricing.
- Attained age-rated: For an attained age-rated Medigap policy, the premium is based on your current age and increases as you age. Therefore, plans that cost less at 65 may cost more at 85. While this type of policy may initially offer the lowest premium, it has the potential to become the most expensive over time. The premium can also increase due to inflation and other factors.
Besides these pricing structures, premiums also vary from provider to provider. For example, a Medigap Plan G with Aetna costs around $80 to $112.95 per month, while Medical Mutual in Ohio offers the same plan for $132. The average monthly premium cost of a Medicare Supplement Plan in Ohio can range from $78 to $171.
Cost Comparison of the Top-Rated Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio
Due to the standardization, all Medigap plans have to offer the same coverage across the State. This means that all Plan Gs in Ohio offer the same benefits to enrollees regardless of the insurance provider you choose.
The only difference is plan availability and premiums. Looking into the price difference can help you make a cost-efficient decision.
Let us look into the prices of the most popular Medigap companies that provide plans G and N in Ohio.
The table below provides the estimated cost for a 65-year-old non-smoker female.
| Insurance Company | Plan G Monthly Premium | Plan N Monthly Premium |
| Aetna | $80 | $89 |
| Humana | $101 | $103 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $118 | $110 |
| Medical Mutual | $132 | $126 |
Medicare Eligibility in Ohio
What makes you eligible for Medicare in Ohio? Medicare has the same eligibility criteria across all the States.
You qualify for Medicare if:
- You are 65 years old or above.
- You have a medical disability.
- You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
- You have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
You are eligible for Medicare if the Social Security Administration approves you based on your age or a qualifying disability.
Enrollment Period for Medicare in Ohio
The best time to purchase a Medigap policy is during the Open Enrollment period. Medicare has two enrollment periods besides open enrollment. These are your initial enrolment period (IEP) and a general enrolment period (GEP).
- Open enrollment period (OEP): You can join, switch plans, or drop your coverage plans from October 15 to December 7 each year. Suppose you’re under 65 and have Medicare because of a disability or End‑Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). In that case, you might not be able to buy the Medigap policy you want, or any Medigap policy, until you turn 65.
- Initial enrollment period (IEP): The IEP is 7 months long, starting 3 months before your 65th birthday and ending 3 months after you turn 65. You can enroll during this period if you haven’t had Medicare before.
- General enrolment period (GEP): If you miss your IEP, you can access Medicare by applying for it during the general enrollment period (GEP) between January 1 and March 31 every year. During this period, you can also change your current Medicare plans. For example, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan and you want to switch to Original Medicare, you can do so during this period.
Benefits of Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio
Ohio residents have a range of benefits to avail from a Medicare Supplement Plan. These plans help cover gaps in standard Medicare coverage.
The most important advantage of Medigap plans is that they provide coverage for costs that Original Medicare does not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. This benefit provides financial relief to senior residents who are looking to lower additional costs associated with healthcare checkups.
As the State offers about ten different types of Medigap policies, beneficiaries have a variety of options to choose from. Medigap plans are also standardized by the federal government. Consequently, the same type of plans offer the same benefits. For example, all plan Gs in the State will offer the same standardized benefits to enrollees. This standardization across the plans simplifies the selection process, as beneficiaries only need to look into the premiums, insurer ratings, and competitive rates.
Another important benefit of Medigap policies is the freedom to choose healthcare providers. As long as a healthcare provider or a hospital accepts Medicare, the Medigap plan will cover its share of the approved amount.
This is beneficial for those who travel frequently as it doesn’t restrict beneficiaries to a limited network of providers. Therefore, having access to Medigap with Original Medicare proves more beneficial than having a standard Medicare plan.
Resources for Medicare in Ohio
Several organizations across Ohio provide free counseling and guidance to senior residents regarding Medicare plans. Here are some organizations to assist Ohioans.
| Organization | How you can get help | Website & Contact Info |
| Pro Seniors | Pro Seniors, a nonprofit organization, provides legal aid to Ohio residents. This organization also operates SMP, helping senior adults report Medicare fraud and abuse. Volunteers also help identify fraudulent claims and charges. | Website | (800) 488-6070 |
| Ohio Senior Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) | The Ohio Senior Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is a statewide program that provides information to senior adults in Ohio. Trained volunteers at SHIIP provide one-on-one counseling and guidance about Medicare benefits and coverage plans. | Website | (800) 686-1578 |
| Ohio Department of Insurance | The Ohio Department of Insurance regulates insurance policies sold in Ohio. This organization advocates for Ohio residents, ensuring they get fair coverage. The experts at this department connect you with agencies related to Medicare and provide you with all the necessary information. | Website | (614) 644-2658 |
| Ohio Area Agencies on Aging | Ohio has about 12 local Agencies on Aging. Every agency provides extensive services to senior adults aged 60 and above residing in Ohio. These agencies guide senior adults about Medicare coverage, options, and plans. They also resolve Medicare-related queries and policies. You can also receive unbiased advice from the counselors as they are not affiliated with any insurance companies. | Website | (866) 243-5678 |
Choose Comprehensive Coverage in the State of Ohio With Silveredge
Medical complications with growing age require immediate attention. It is critical to have access to comprehensive coverage plans in Ohio as healthcare bills are sky-high. Access to comprehensive coverage plans lowers out-of-pocket hospital bills.
Enrolling in Medicare not only saves you from skyrocketing hospital bills but also provides you with a long-term plan in place.
Since Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, you must choose the right plan through careful evaluation. Consult Silveredge for counseling and guidance about Medicare plans.
Licensed advisors at Silveredge can help you compare available plans with premiums so you can secure a plan that best suits your healthcare needs. Reach out to Silveredge today for a secure and healthy future.
