Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio

Medicare supplement plans in Ohio, also known as Medigap, are similar to other plans around the nation, although each state has its own rules and regulations. In Ohio, there are 10 separate Medigap plans to choose from. Plans G and F are both high-deductible options with greater benefits, while Plan N is cheaper but covers less. 

All 3 main Medigap plans, G, F and N, are similar. Plan F is the most comprehensive. Plan G excludes the Part B deductible, and Plan N excludes the Part B charges as well. Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare recipients after January 20, 2021.

In Ohio, there are currently 2.4 million people enrolled in Medicare. Of those, an estimated 588,000 have Medigap plans. Medigap plans are different from Medicare advantage plans, and you’re not allowed to have both at the same time. Nearly 47% of all Ohio Medicare recipients have a Medicare advantage plan.

Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio

• CoverRight: Best for Guided Assistance
• Mutual of Omaha: Best for Trustworthiness
• Humana: Best for Plan F
• Aetna: Best Pricing
• EasyMedicare: Best for Comparing Quotes

Key Points

What’s the cost for Medicare supplement plans in Ohio?

Prices vary depending upon coverage, but for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker in Ohio, Medigap plans average:

• Medigap Plan F: Monthly premiums range from $128 to $357
• Plan F with High Deductible: $32 to $69 per month
• Plan G: $101 to $343
• Plan G with High Deductible: $33 to $66
• Plan N: $85 to $305

Medicare supplement plans in Ohio for people under age 65

Ohio requires that private insurers offer a Medigap plan if you sign up for your initial enrollment period and participate in Part B. Your initial enrollment period begins 3 months before you turn 65, and during this time you’re guaranteed acceptance. For Medicare recipients under the age of 65, however, the rules are not the same.

In Ohio, there are 386,000 people under the age of 65 enrolled in Medicare. 56 private insurers offer Medigap, but none are required to sell them to people under the age of 65. Who qualifies for Medicare under age 65? Social Security disability recipients (SSDI), plus individuals diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and permanent kidney failure.

What is a Medicare Supplement Plan?

A Medicare supplement plan is health insurance that fills in the gaps when it comes to paying coinsurance, copays and deductibles. Also known as Medigap, every new Medicare recipient age 65 gets accepted into a Medicare supplement plan if they sign up during their initial enrolment period and are paying for Part B.

Medicare Plan G

Medicare Plan G, or Medigap, is a supplemental plan. Along with Plans F and N, it’s 1 of the 3 main Medicare supplements that help pay costs for deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

With Medigap, it’s important to know that:

• Medigap plans are different from Medicare advantage plans. The best Medicare advantage plans are comprehensive coverage, while Medigap plans supplement the coverage you already have.
• Medigap plans are not free like Medicare Part A. You pay a monthly premium, on top of Parts B and D. 
• You have to already have Medicare Parts A and B to qualify for Medigap. While Part A, hospitalization, is free, Part B requires a monthly premium.
• You cannot have both a Medigap and a Medicare advantage plan.
• While Medigap plans are available to Medicare recipients aged 65 and older, they are not required for Medicare recipients under the age of 65, like those on Social Security disability (SSDI).

If for some reason you choose to cancel your Medigap coverage for an alternative plan, be aware that you might have to pay a late enrollment penalty for the new Medicare drug coverage in that plan.

*Note - Because of Medicare Access and the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, Medicare Parts C and F are no longer offered to Medicare recipients on or after January 1, 2020. If you already had coverage before January 1, 2002, you can keep it.

When Can You Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans?

The time to buy a Medicare supplement plan is 3 months before your 65th birthday. Buying a Medicare supplement plan during your initial enrollment period means you not only get the best rates, but the best coverage as well. If you sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period (7 months in all), you’re guaranteed coverage no matter what pre-existing conditions you might have.

On the flipside, if you let your initial enrollment period pass without signing up, not only will you risk getting less coverage at higher prices, you may not even get coverage at all. Enrollees who miss their initial enrollment period are not guaranteed coverage.

If you do happen to miss your initial enrollment period, you’ll have to sign during the general enrollment period. Instead of beginning on your 65th birthday, your coverage will instead start on July 1 of that year.

Medicare Supplement Provider Reviews

If you’re looking for a Medicare supplement plan in Ohio, there are many great providers. Benzinga has put together a short list of the very best just for you.

CoverRight: Best for Guided Assistance

CoverRight is a free service that helps Medicare-eligible people find the right plan. Whether you're looking for Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap or prescription drug plans, CoverRight offers guided assistance at each step. Getting started is a simple 2-step process -- just create an account and answer a short questionnaire (under 2 minutes) and CoverRight will help you find the right coverage for you.

Mutual of Omaha: Best for Trustworthiness

When it comes to the name of an insurance company you can count on, that name is Mutual of Omaha. Founded in 1909, Mutual of Omaha today has more than 13 million members. In Ohio, Mutual of Omaha Plan G helps cover:

• Part A deductible and coinsurance up to $1,408 
• Part B coinsurance
• 80% of Part B physician expenses
• 365 extra days of hospital care (lifetime)
• Copay for skilled nursing facility

Plan G does not cover Medicare Part B deductible.

Aetna: Best for Price

Aetna is a complete managed care company with more than 39 million customers nationwide. In Ohio, Aetna premiums work on an Attained Age Rated scale which means your rates increase with age. Medigap plans in Ohio average monthly premiums from $77 for Plan N to $104 for Plan G and $124 for Plan F. Aetna Medigap plans consistently rate as ‘Best Price’ in Ohio.

Aetna offers 6 separate Medigap plans which pay:

• Additional 365 days hospital coverage (lifetime)
• 100% Part A and B coinsurance or copayment
• 100% skilled nursing facility copayment
• 100% Part A deductible
• 100% Part B deductible

Humana: Best for Plan F

Humana specializes in health care and is the 3rd largest health provider in the nation. In Ohio, Humana sells 5 Medicare supplement products, including Plans F, G and N. Plan F is by far the most popular. Premiums work on the Attained Age Rate system and go up with age. 

All Medigap plans pay for:

• Part A deductible
• Part A coinsurance
• Part B coinsurance
• SNF coinsurance
• Excess charges

All plans, except Plan G, pay for Part B deductible.

EasyMedicare.com: Best for Quote Comparison

If you can’t decide on which health insurance company fits you best, let the experts at EasyMedicare.com do the work for you. EasyMedicare.com is a quote comparison website with lots of great articles and information. Its recommended providers include:

• Humana
• Anthem
• Cigna
• United Healthcare

Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio, Best Resources

If you’re looking for more resources on Medicare supplement plans in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Insurance offers free information. There you’ll find more information on Medicare, Medigap policies in particular.

Not only do you need to know the best Medicare supplement plans, but exactly how the rules in Ohio affect you. Benzinga has a vast array of Medicare and Medigap articles to help you choose your Medigap coverage. Benzinga, the Medicare experts.

Frequently Asked Questions