Medicare Supplement plans in Ohio may help pay for a variety of healthcare costs, including hospital coinsurance and your Part A deductible. This page explains your Medicare Supplement options in Ohio, how the program works, and who qualifies.

What is Medigap in Ohio?

Medicare Supplement Insurance is more commonly known as Medigap, because it's said to "fill the gaps" left by Original Medicare. This means your out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and coinsurance. Medigap plans do not pay for services not covered by Medicare.

Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, there is no limit to your yearly out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare (Part A, hospital insurance, and Part B, medical insurance). With no yearly max, you could walk away from a lengthy hospital stay owing tens of thousands of dollars – even though you have Medicare.

Medigap plans are standardized, which means every Plan A (or B, C, etc.) offers the same benefits no matter which insurance company sells you the plan.

Who qualifies for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Ohio?

If you have Original Medicare and are age 65 or older, you qualify for Medicare Supplement Insurance in Ohio.

Most states also provide protections for people who aren't yet 65 but qualify for Medicare due to a disability. Unfortunately, Ohio is not one of them.

What does Medigap cover?

Medigap coverage varies according to which plan you choose. At a minimum, every plan pays for your Part A coinsurance and gives you an additional 365 lifetime reserve days for inpatient hospital care. For plan details, see the following table:

Please note that Medigap plans only help pay for services provided by Original Medicare, which does not include prescription drug coverage. These benefits are available through either a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan (MA-PD) or standalone Medicare Part D plan.

You cannot pair Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan – even if your Advantage plan doesn’t cover prescriptions.

Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F in Ohio

Medigap Plan C and Medigap Plan F each include the Medicare Part B deductible benefit. Thanks to a new federal law prohibiting this coverage, these plans are no longer available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. You can get similar coverage – minus the Part B benefit – with either Medigap Plan D (instead of C) or Medigap Plan G (instead of F).

Even though they do not pay for the Part B deductible, most beneficiaries save money with Plans D and G because the premiums are lower.

When is the best time to join a Medicare Supplement plan in Ohio?

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the best time to join a Medicare Supplement plan in Ohio. This is one of the few times you have a guaranteed issue right, which means your application does not go through medical underwriting. This protects you from being denied a Medigap policy or paying more for it due to your age or medical history.

Open Enrollment lasts for 6 months, beginning the first day you are both age 65 and enrolled in Original Medicare.

How to choose a Medigap plan in Ohio

It's important consider your future healthcare needs when choosing an Ohio Medigap plan. It may be tempting to go with the least expensive option, but don't forget medical underwriting. Waiting until your healthcare needs change could make it impossible for you to get more comprehensive Medigap coverage when you really need it.

Once you decide on the coverage you want, it's time to look at price. Medigap insurers use one or more of the following pricing method options:

• Community rated: Also known as no-age rated, since premiums are never based on age. Over time, community rated Medigap plans cost the least, although they're often more expensive at first.
• Attained-age rated: Premiums start out low but go up as you age. These policies are usually the most expensive option over time.
• Issue-age rated: Premiums are based on your age at the time you join the plan, not your age throughout the life of the policy. They may rise over time due to inflation, though.

Comparing Medigap plans in Ohio is easy with our Find a Plan tool. Just enter your location information review Medicare plan options in your area.