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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part D Plans Ohio 2027: 9 Drug Plans as MA Options Fall
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 2, 2026
Ohio has 9 standalone Medicare Part D plans for 2027 in our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, from Humana, Wellcare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna SilverScript and HealthSpring. The standalone list is steady, while CMS reports Ohio’s Medicare Advantage plan count dropping from 212 to 180 for 2027.
2027 by the Numbers
9
standalone Part D plans in Ohio for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
212 to 180
Ohio Medicare Advantage plans, 2026 to 2027 (CMS landscape)
$41.33
2027 base beneficiary premium used to figure the late penalty (CMS)
For many Ohioans, 2027 shopping starts with a letter saying a Medicare Advantage plan is changing or ending. CMS counts 32 fewer MA plans in Ohio than last year. Some people will land in another MA plan; others will return to Original Medicare and need a standalone drug plan for the first time in years.
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings finds 9 standalone plans (PDPs) for Ohio, offered statewide; Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly. The national 2027 rules are summarized on the 2027 Medicare Part D plans page.
Key Takeaways
- CMS shows Ohio Medicare Advantage plans falling from 212 in 2026 to 180 in 2027, a drop of about 15%.
- Our count shows 9 standalone Part D plans for Ohio in 2027 from five sponsors, available in all 88 counties.
- If your MA plan leaves Medicare at year end, a special enrollment period lets you join a standalone plan through the last day of February.
- Ohio has no state drug subsidy like New York’s EPIC or Pennsylvania’s PACE; the Golden Buckeye card offers business discounts, not drug coverage.
- OSHIIP, a division of the Ohio Department of Insurance, gives free plan comparisons.
Ohio's Shrinking Medicare Advantage Menu
-32
Medicare Advantage plans in Ohio for 2027 versus 2026 (CMS)
176
individual MA plans in Ohio for 2027 in our own count of CMS filings
9
standalone drug plans, unchanged statewide (our count)
Our total of 176 differs from CMS’s 180 because of counting rules, but both point the same way. Ohio’s loss of 32 plans is one of the largest of any state for 2027 in the CMS landscape figures. Standalone drug plans are approved for the whole state, so they are not part of that county-by-county contraction.
When Your Ohio MA Plan Is Not Renewing
1
Read the non-renewal notice. Plans leaving Medicare must notify members in the fall, before Annual Enrollment begins.
2
Decide on a route. You can choose a different MA plan, or return to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan.
3
Use the right window. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. If your plan is leaving Medicare, a special enrollment period also lets you join a new MA plan or a standalone drug plan from December 8 through the last day of February.
4
Look at Medigap protections. People losing an MA plan that is leaving Medicare may have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap policies; ask OSHIIP which ones apply.
5
Do not leave a gap. Join a drug plan before the special window closes to avoid months without creditable coverage.
The Nine Plans Ohioans Can Pick From
| Sponsor | Ohio standalone plans for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Humana | Humana Basic Rx Plan; Humana Value Rx Plan; Humana Premier Rx Plan |
| UnitedHealthcare | Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC; Medicare Rx Saver from UHC |
| Wellcare | Wellcare Classic; Wellcare Value Script |
| Aetna | SilverScript Choice |
| HealthSpring | HealthSpring Assurance Rx |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, individual plans only. Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly.
Medical Mutual of Ohio, Anthem and SummaCare file Ohio Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 in our count, but none of them shows up on the standalone list. Former members of their MA plans returning to Original Medicare will pick from the five national sponsors. HealthSpring’s single Ohio plan is described on the HealthSpring Part D 2027 page.
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Penalty Math If You Wait
| Full months without creditable drug coverage | Monthly 2027 penalty | Penalty over a full year |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | $5.00 | $60.00 |
| 24 | $9.90 | $118.80 |
| 36 | $14.90 | $178.80 |
| 60 | $24.80 | $297.60 |
Our math: 1% of the $41.33 base beneficiary premium per uncovered month, rounded to the nearest $0.10 as CMS requires. The penalty is added to your plan premium and recalculated each year as the base premium changes.
Gap risk for MA leavers: MA plans with drug coverage count as creditable, so switching straight into a standalone plan avoids any penalty. The risk comes from letting the special window lapse and going months with no drug plan at all. The 2027 late enrollment penalty page covers exceptions.
No EPIC or PACE Equivalent in Ohio
What Ohio offers
✔
Golden Buckeye card: discounts at participating businesses for older Ohioans and Ohioans with disabilities
✔
OSHIIP counseling, free and unbiased
✔
Access to federal Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs
What Ohio does not offer
✔
A statewide program that pays Part D premiums for seniors
✔
State copay wraparound coverage like New York’s EPIC
✔
A state drug card that replaces Part D
For Ohioans with limited income, federal Extra Help is the main tool. It can lower premiums, deductibles and copays in any standalone plan, and people who qualify can change plans more often during the year. Income and asset limits are adjusted every year, and anyone with full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or Supplemental Security Income qualifies automatically. The Extra Help 2027 page lists the current limits.
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Northeast Ohio Has Most MA Choice; Appalachia Has Least
Medicare Advantage plans by county, 2027 (our count)
✔
Summit 96, Cuyahoga 95, Stark 92, Mahoning 90, Lorain 89
✔
Crawford 44, Athens 37, Scioto 37
✔
UnitedHealthcare files the most Ohio MA plans with 28, then Devoted Health with 23 and Humana with 22
✔
Every county gets the same 9 standalone drug plans
In southeastern counties with fewer MA plans, Original Medicare with a standalone plan and a Medigap policy is one way to keep access to any provider who accepts Medicare, including hospitals across the river in West Virginia or Kentucky.
Free Help From OSHIIP
OSHIIP in brief: the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program is a division of the Ohio Department of Insurance. Counselors compare Part D plans for your drug list and explain programs that help pay drug costs, at no charge.
Bring a list of every prescription, your pharmacy and any non-renewal letter you received. If you want to start with low premiums, the cheapest Medicare Part D plan 2027 guide explains why the lowest premium is not always the lowest yearly cost.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Ohio’s 9 standalone Part D plans for 2027 hold steady in our count while CMS shows Medicare Advantage choices falling from 212 to 180. If your MA plan is ending, you have until the last day of February to join a new plan, but a gap without drug coverage can add a penalty for life. Ohio has no state drug subsidy, so Extra Help and free OSHIIP counseling are the main sources of help.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ How many Medicare drug plans are offered in Ohio for 2027?
Nine standalone plans in our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, from Humana, Wellcare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna SilverScript and HealthSpring.
➤ Why did my Ohio Medicare Advantage plan end?
Ohio lost 32 MA plans for 2027 in CMS figures as insurers trimmed their lineups. Your plan must send a non-renewal notice explaining your options.
➤ How long do I have to replace a plan that is leaving Medicare?
You can use Annual Enrollment through December 7, 2026, and a special enrollment period also runs from December 8 through the last day of February.
➤ Does the Golden Buckeye card pay for prescriptions?
No. It offers discounts at participating businesses and is not drug coverage or a substitute for Part D.
➤ Does Medical Mutual of Ohio sell a standalone Part D plan for 2027?
Not in our count. Medical Mutual files Ohio Medicare Advantage plans, but no standalone PDP.
➤ What would a two-year gap in drug coverage cost me?
About $9.90 a month in 2027, based on 24% of the $41.33 base premium, added to your premium for as long as you have Part D.
➤ Who runs OSHIIP?
The Ohio Department of Insurance. OSHIIP is the state’s free Medicare counseling program.
➤ Are drug plans the same in Cleveland and Athens?
Yes. All 9 standalone plans are offered statewide, even though Medicare Advantage choice ranges from 96 plans in Summit County to 37 in Athens.
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