First steps
- Get permission to talk to Medicare. Your parent completes form CMS-10106. Without it, 1-800-MEDICARE can only talk with your parent, though your parent can give permission during a call with you on the line.
- Set up their Medicare.gov account. It shows Original Medicare claims as they're processed, their plan, and a printable copy of their Medicare card.
- Make a list. Doctors, hospitals, prescriptions and pharmacies. You'll need it to check any plan, especially during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7).
- Read the fall mail. The Annual Notice of Change, or a non-renewal letter if the plan is ending. For 2027, at least 38,178 Ohioans must choose new coverage because their plan is ending; see plans ending in 2027.
- Check for help paying. Ohio's Medicare Premium Assistance Programs and Extra Help can lower costs. Try our savings programs calculator.
Which form does what
| Need | Form or step |
|---|---|
| Medicare can share information with you | CMS-10106, Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information |
| You can file appeals for your parent | CMS-1696, Appointment of Representative |
| You manage your parent's Social Security benefits | Ask Social Security about becoming a representative payee (1-800-772-1213) |
| You make health care decisions if your parent can't | A health care power of attorney under Ohio law (ORC 1337.12); talk with an attorney |
Help in Ohio
- Area agency on aging (1-866-243-5678): home care, meals, caregiver support and PASSPORT assessments.
- Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline (1-800-324-8680): MyCare Ohio and Medicaid plan questions if your parent has both Medicare and Medicaid.
- Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (1-800-293-4767): suspicious charges or calls.
If your parent is comparing plans, you can join the conversation with a licensed insurance agent; you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in our caregivers' guide.
Related questions
How do I find my area agency on aging?
Ohio's 12 regions.
How do I appeal a hospital discharge in Ohio?
When a parent isn't ready to go home.
How do I report Medicare fraud in Ohio?
Protecting a parent from scams.
Sources
- CMS — Form CMS-10106, Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information (PDF)
- CMS — Form CMS-1696, Appointment of Representative (PDF)
- Medicare.gov — Talk to someone
- Social Security — Representative payee program
- Ohio Revised Code 1337.12 — Health care power of attorney: how it is signed
- Ohio Department of Aging — Find services
More questions in this guide
- How do I appeal a hospital discharge in Ohio if I'm not ready to go home?
- How do I appeal a Medicare denial in Ohio?
- How do I file a complaint about an insurance agent in Ohio?
- How do I find a licensed insurance agent for Medicare in Ohio?
- How do I find my area agency on aging in Ohio?
- How do I report Medicare fraud in Ohio?
- What are the Medicare phone numbers for Ohio?
- Where is the Social Security office near me in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Ohio Medicare contacts · All questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I give someone permission to talk to Medicare for me?
Fill out form CMS-10106, Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information, and submit it online or by mail. You choose who can get your information, what kind and for how long. If someone signs for you, they must send proof of their legal authority, such as a power of attorney.
Can I file a Medicare appeal for my parent?
Yes, if your parent names you as their representative with the Appointment of Representative form (CMS-1696), or you have legal authority to act for them. For a hospital discharge, a representative can call Commence Health at 1-888-524-9900 for a fast appeal.
Can I help my parent apply for Ohio Medicaid?
Yes. You can help your parent apply at benefits.ohio.gov or at the county Job and Family Services office. Ohio Medicaid questions go to the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680.
Who helps if my parent's nursing home has problems?
The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, part of the Ohio Department of Aging, at 1-800-282-1206. It helps residents of nursing homes and assisted living, and their families, resolve complaints.
Medicare in your Ohio county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Summit · Montgomery · Lucas · Butler · Stark · Lorain · Warren · Delaware · Lake · Mahoning · Clermont · Trumbull · Licking · Medina · Greene · Fairfield · Portage · All 88 counties →
