A reminder to all Ohio Medicare beneficiaries (and/or soon to be beneficiaries) and family members to educate themselves about Medicare and related programs covering Medigap, Medicaid, Evercare, and Long Term Care. Before we know it Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment will once again be approaching. During open enrollment, Ohio seniors on Medicare can make a single plan election into or out of a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Coverage Scenarios Permitted During Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment:

• If a person on Medicare currently has coverage in a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage, they can use open enrollment to select a different Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage, Original Medicare and a stand-alone prescription drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage Private-Fee-For-Service Plan and a stand-alone prescription drug plan.

• If a person on Medicare currently has coverage in a Medicare Advantage Plan with no prescription drug coverage, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage Plan or Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage.

• If a person on Medicare currently has coverage in Original Medicare with a stand-alone prescription drug plan, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage Private-Fee-For-Service Plan with the same stand-alone prescription drug plan.

• If a person on Medicare currently has coverage in Original Medicare without a stand-alone prescription drug plan, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage Plan without prescription drug coverage.

There are numerous Medicare Advantage Plan choices and they include managed healthcare options like(HMOs), (PPOs) and non-managed care options such as Private Fee For Service (PFFS) Plans and Health Savings Accounts. Medicare Advantage Plans provide comprehensive health insurance benefits and can include prescription drug coverage. For more information please visit:

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program

OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program) is a program that exists specifically for Medicare recipients in Ohio.  They will answer your questions about any of the matters listed below.

• Medicare coverage for seniors and for people under age 65 with disabilities

• Medicare supplemental insurance

• Medicare Advantage plans (formerly called Medicare+Choice plans)

• Medicaid

• Long-term care insurance

• Home health care coverage

• Retiree health plan coverage

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