More than 2.5 million people in Ohio are signed up for Medicare, making it the sixth-largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare sold by private insurance companies. It offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost help with dental and vision coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they're often cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan, but they offer less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine what plan best suits your needs.
» MORE: Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which should I choose?
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Compare the best Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST FOR SIZE OF NETWORK | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.11 | 4.11/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.74 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST MAJOR COMPANY | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.79 | 3.79/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.82 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST FOR GOVERNMENT RATINGS | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.20 | 4.20/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
BEST FOR LOW-COST PLAN AVAILABILITY | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.76 | 3.76/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.96 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
NerdWallet's picks in Ohio
We analyzed Medicare Advantage plans to compare premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), customer satisfaction and more.
Here are the companies that came out on top with plans available in the state:
Humana
Humana is NerdWallet’s pick as the best major Medicare Advantage company. Humana Medicare Advantage plans are widely available with low premiums and competitive drug costs. Many Humana plans also offer a Part B Giveback that covers some portion of your Medicare Part B premiums. Its quality ratings from CMS could be better, however.
» MORE: Humana Medicare Advantage review
UPMC for Life
UPMC for Life gets high quality ratings from CMS and scores well on measures of member experience. It performed the best for customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania on JD Power’s latest Medicare Advantage study. Competitors might offer more options for $0-premium plans, however.
Aetna
Aetna makes NerdWallet’s list of the top Medicare Advantage companies as the best for government ratings. It gets the highest CMS quality ratings among large companies with near-nationwide availability. Aetna makes $0-premium plans available to most Medicare members, but it doesn’t have the best customer satisfaction, and some competitors have lower caps on out-of-pocket costs.
» MORE: Aetna Medicare Advantage review
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collective of 33 different companies and often scores well on customer satisfaction surveys, but cost, quality and member experience vary by company and location.
HealthSpring
HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) is NerdWallet's pick as the best Medicare Advantage company for low-cost plan availability. HealthSpring has both the highest percentage of $0-premium plans and the lowest average monthly premium among major companies. While its CMS quality ratings are below average, the majority of its members are in highly rated plans. Departing members report more problems than average with coverage of doctors and hospitals, however.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare stands out for its large network of providers and hospitals and is included on our list of the best Medicare Advantage companies. Its plans, which are sometimes co-branded with AARP, are available with $0 premiums in 46 states. However, UHC doesn’t always score well on customer experience surveys.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
What to know about Medicare Advantage in Ohio
About 1 in 5 people in Ohio are 65 and older, and there are a variety of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans in the state.
The average monthly premium in 2026 for a Medicare Advantage plan in Ohio is $13.54. (This is down from $14.26 in 2025.)
There are 212 Medicare Advantage plans available in Ohio in 2026. (There were 217 in 2025.)
All Medicare-eligible people in Ohio have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Third-party ratings
JD Power releases an annual study measuring member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans. It uses eight factors, such as level of trust, ability to get health services, ease of doing business and resolving problems or complaints.
In Ohio, these Medicare Advantage companies scored above the regional average (649 points out of 1,000) on measures of member satisfaction:
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (680 points).
Aetna (655 points).
Medicare resources in Ohio
Ohio Department of Insurance: Resources that include a review of Medicare basics, free online counseling to assist with picking out a plan and contact information for local coordinators.
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging: Information about Medicare programs through workshops and videos and additional contacts for Medicare beneficiaries.
Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol: Information for identifying and reporting Medicare fraud and abuse.
More Nerdy Perspective
What Medicare Advantage plans are rated the best in Ohio?
I analyzed Medicare Advantage plans’ cost, quality, customer service and more. The companies that scored the best in Ohio are Humana, UPMC for Life, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, HealthSpring and UnitedHealthcare. There can be a lot of differences between companies and plans. These ratings are a guide, but it’s a good idea to look carefully at the specifics of plans available in your area. Keep your health, doctors and prescriptions in mind when comparing your options.
I analyzed Medicare Advantage plans’ cost, quality, customer service and more. The companies that scored the best in Ohio are Humana, UPMC for Life, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, HealthSpring and UnitedHealthcare. There can be a lot of differences between companies and plans. These ratings are a guide, but it’s a good idea to look carefully at the specifics of plans available in your area. Keep your health, doctors and prescriptions in mind when comparing your options.
Alex Rosenberglead writer covering MedicareHow to choose a Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have preferred medical providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet. Accessed May 5, 2026.
- 2.U.S. Census Bureau. Types of Health Insurance Coverage by Age. Accessed May 5, 2026.
- 3.JD Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, JD Power Finds. Accessed May 5, 2026.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage ratings are based on premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, consumer experience and more. We calculate each health insurance company’s rating on a curved 5-point scale.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed companies covering about 87% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the United States. We reviewed 25 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurance companies having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.)
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies. In many places, one company serves more than half of the market. At the national level, NerdWallet’s reviews include each of the 10 largest brands by enrollment.
At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in every state where Medicare Advantage plans are sold, and includes the top two insurers in 40 of those 49 states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
This roundup includes only insurers that sell Medicare Advantage in Ohio.