How to find the best Medicare Advantage plan in Ohio

Over half of Ohio’s Medicare beneficiaries have chosen to move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. With several options available, it’s natural to wonder which is the best Medicare Advantage plan in Ohio.

Before enrolling in a plan, it’s important for you to be equipped with the knowledge and facts about your healthcare options to make a decision that’s right for you.

In this post, we’ll discuss pros and cons of a Medicare Advantage plan, what benefits to look for in a plan, and how to find the best one for you.

Key takeaways:

Insurance providers that carry highly-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio include Devoted Health, Humana, and PrimeTime Health Plan.
The best Medicare Advantage plan in Ohio is different for everyone, but should provide coverage for the services, providers, and prescription drugs you need. Talk to a licensed Medicare Advisor to see what the best plan is for your health situation.

2024 Ohio Medicare Advantage facts

The average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio is $16.63
224 Medicare Advantage plans are available in Ohio
20 insurance providers offer Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio including Aetna Medicare, Cigna, Devoted Health, and UnitedHealthCare

What is a Medicare Advantage plan?

Also known as Part C, Medicare Advantage plans are a bundled, private option for Medicare insurance. They offer an alternative to Original Medicare and combine Original Medicare coverage with additional benefits, which generally include coverage for prescriptions and dental, vision, and hearing services. There are certain pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans that every beneficiary should be aware of before they sign up for a plan.

Benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan

Most Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits such as routine vision, dental, and hearing services. Some plans may even provide benefits for a fitness membership, transportation to doctor’s appointments, and flex credits for over-the-counter (OTC) items.
Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket maximums to put a limit on your annual healthcare costs.
Most people have a lot of options when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan. While this can feel overwhelming, it can help you find a plan that best fits your needs. You also have the option to change plans each year as your healthcare needs change.

Drawbacks of a Medicare Advantage plan

Medicare Advantage plans don’t have standard out-of-pocket cost structures, and many people end up paying more to receive the care they need.
Medicare Advantage plans require prior authorization for many services.
Medicare Advantage plans restrict you to provider networks, so you’ll need to see healthcare providers that are part of the plan’s network or pay more for the care you receive.
Medicare Advantage plans often require referrals to see specialists.

Highly-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio

Medicare star ratings are one way you can assess the quality of a Medicare Advantage plan. Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) judges Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans on a scale of 1-5 stars. A 5-star rating is the highest score a plan can receive, and a 1-star rating is the lowest score. See which Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio are highly-rated based on this system below.

Carriers with 5-star plans:

Devoted Health
PrimeTime Health Plan
UPMC for Life

Carriers with 4.5 star plans:

Humana
Medical Mutual of Ohio
MediGold
SummaCare Medicare Advantage Plans
UnitedHealthcare

Even if a plan has a 4 or 5-star rating, that doesn’t necessarily indicate that it will be the best Medicare Advantage plan for you. You should focus first on what you need covered, including your prescriptions and preferred doctors.