Medicare made clear · Statewide in Ohio
Turning 65, retiring from the state or a school district, or re-shopping because your plan changed for 2026? Sit down with a credentialed independent agent who will walk you through Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D in plain English — patiently, and at no cost to you.
No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
Tell us a little about you and Darin will reach out. Prefer to talk now? Call (702) 706-6564.
Ohio is different
Ohio has 88 counties, some of the deepest Medicare Advantage menus in the country in Cuyahoga and Summit, hospital systems that contract plan by plan, and a huge population of public-pension and union retirees whose employer coverage decides the Medicare question before price does. Start with what actually applies to you.
Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth; OSU Wexner, OhioHealth and Mount Carmel; UC Health, TriHealth, Christ and Mercy; Premier and Kettering — each contracts with some Advantage plans and not others, and several sell plans of their own (MediGold, SummaCare). Which system your doctors belong to is the first question, not the premium.
How networks work in OhioMedical Mutual did not renew some of its plans in 44 Ohio counties, Aetna ended its Smart Fit plan, and the national carriers trimmed county footprints across the state. A non-renewal notice opens a Special Enrollment Period and, usually, a guaranteed-issue right to Medigap — but Ohio has no birthday rule to fall back on later.
What a non-renewal notice gives youOPERS, STRS, SERS, OP&F, the UAW trust and the steel and auto retiree plans each coordinate with Medicare differently. Some pay you an allowance only if you buy through their connector; some enrol you in a group Advantage plan; all of them expect Parts A and B on time.
Retiree coverage & MedicareMedicare in 2026, at a glance
Premiums and deductibles change every year. Here are the current 2026 Original Medicare figures — we refresh them annually so you are never reading last year’s numbers.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (released November 14, 2025) and 2026 Part D parameters. Higher earners may pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) — see our 2026 costs & IRMAA page.
Where to start
There is no single “best” plan — only the one that fits your doctors, your prescriptions, your county, your retiree benefits and your travel. Here is the plain-English version of your choices.
All-in-one Part C plans, often $0 premium, that use a local network — so which hospital system your doctors belong to, your county and your prescriptions matter.
How Advantage worksMedigap pairs with Original Medicare and lets you see any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare — Cleveland Clinic, the James, or a clinic in Florida in February.
How Medigap worksStandalone drug coverage chosen around your medications and pharmacy. 2026 out-of-pocket cap: $2,100.
How Part D worksAdvantage plans built for a chronic condition, for nursing-facility care, or for people with both Medicare and Ohio Medicaid (MyCare Ohio).
About SNPsYour situation matters
The rules change a lot depending on what else you have and where you spend the year. These are the situations Ohioans ask us about most.
How the OPERS HRA, the STRS and SERS Aetna Medicare plans, OP&F’s stipend and the UAW trust fit with Medicare — and what an outside agent can and cannot do for you.
Retiree coverage & MedicareMedical Mutual, Aetna and the national carriers all trimmed Ohio plans for 2026. What a non-renewal notice gives you, and the deadline that comes with it.
What to do nextTRICARE For Life, VA care at Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Chillicothe, Wright-Patterson — and why Part B timing still matters.
Veterans & MedicareNext Generation MyCare Ohio, the Medicare Savings Programs that pay your Part B premium, and Extra Help for Part D.
Dual-eligible helpFree guide
A clear, step-by-step walk-through of your enrollment windows, the Ohio-specific choices in front of you, and the deadlines that carry a lifelong penalty if you miss them. No sign-up required.
Read the Turning 65 guide Get the free 295-page bookWho you’ll be working with
Gerontologist · Registered Social Security Analyst® · U.S. Air Force Veteran
Darin Weidauer (OH License #1616139) is an independent Medicare insurance agent, credentialed gerontologist, and Registered Social Security Analyst® who helps Ohio retirees and people approaching 65 make sense of their options — clearly, patiently, and with no cost to them. A 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran who retired as an officer, Darin holds five master’s degrees, including an MBA and a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine and a Master’s in Long-Term Care from USC, and became a credentialed gerontologist in 2014 — studying the human side of aging, not just the paperwork.
A former Professor of Aerospace Studies at Loyola Marymount University who has lectured at more than 50 colleges and universities, Darin now channels that teaching instinct into plain-English Medicare education through one-on-one reviews, no-cost workshops, and his book Retire With Confidence. More about Darin →
Serving communities across Ohio
We work with Ohioans by phone and video across all 88 counties. Find Medicare guidance for your city:
Or explore Medicare by region — the parts of the state we all know by name:
Near Wright-Patterson or the Defense Supply Center? We help military retirees and veterans coordinate TRICARE, VA care and Medicare:
Questions Ohioans ask
There is no cost to you. Independent Medicare agents are paid by the insurance carriers when you enroll, so our help comparing plans, answering questions, and reviewing your coverage each year is free. Your plan premium is the same whether you enroll with our help or on your own.
You are not alone: for 2026 Medical Mutual of Ohio did not renew some plans in 44 counties, Aetna ended its Smart Fit plan, and the national carriers scaled back county footprints. A non-renewal notice gives you a Special Enrollment Period and, in most cases, a guaranteed-issue right to buy a Medigap policy without health questions, generally within 63 days of the coverage ending. Ohio has no birthday rule to fall back on later, so call before the deadline on the notice.
Most people first enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period, the seven months around their 65th birthday. After that, the Annual Election Period runs October 15 to December 7 each year, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. Moving counties, losing a plan, or qualifying for Medicaid opens a Special Enrollment Period.
Both accept Original Medicare, and therefore any Medigap policy. Each contracts with some Medicare Advantage plans and not others, and the lists change every year. If Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the James, OhioHealth, UC Health or another specific system is your care, we confirm the plan’s network status in writing before you enroll.
Usually it decides it. OPERS pays its HRA allowance only when you buy a Medicare plan through Via Benefits; STRS and SERS put Medicare-eligible retirees into a group Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO; OP&F pays a stipend through Alight; the UAW trust expects Parts A and B. Our retiree coverage page explains each one and where an independent agent fits.
No — and we will always be upfront about that. We represent a number of insurance organizations and products in Ohio, not all of them. The easiest next step is to call us at (702) 706-6564 and we will walk through what fits you. To compare every option on your own, Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and OSHIIP (800-686-1578) have the complete list.
Ready when you are
A short, friendly conversation — no pressure, no cost. We’ll look at your doctors, your prescriptions, your retiree benefits, your county and your travel together.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338, OH License #1616139), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 13, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or OSHIIP at 800-686-1578.