Your two main paths
- Original Medicare (Parts A and B) lets you use any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. Add a Medigap policy for help with deductibles and coinsurance, and a Part D plan for drugs. This works well if you travel to Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Huntington or Morgantown for specialists.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are sold by private companies, usually include drug coverage and use a network. Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or fitness. Extra benefits vary by plan and county, may have limits and costs, and not every plan offers them. Check a plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage.
How many plans are in Appalachian counties?
CMS's 2027 plan data show every Ohio county has Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone. The numbers below don't include special needs plans:
Special needs plans, including plans for people with both Medicare and Ohio Medicaid, are counted separately; see special needs plans in Ohio. Some plans end in 2027: check Ohio plans ending in 2027 and look for a non-renewal letter.
Hospitals and clinics
Several Appalachian counties, including Adams, Ashtabula, Belmont, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Pike, Tuscarawas and Washington, have a Critical Access Hospital, a small rural hospital with no more than 25 inpatient beds and a 24-hour emergency department. Many people also use Rural Health Clinics and community health centers for primary care. Medicare covers care at all of them.
How to choose
- List your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy, including any across the state line.
- Check networks for each Medicare Advantage plan you consider, or choose Original Medicare if keeping every provider matters most.
- Check your drugs on each plan's formulary.
- Decide by December 7, 2026, the end of Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage.
To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in Medicare in rural and Appalachian Ohio.
Related questions
Telehealth in rural Ohio
Visits from home through 2027.
Rural Emergency Hospitals
What they are and Ohio's status.
Air ambulance
When the nearest hospital is far.
Sources
- Appalachian Regional Commission — Appalachian counties served by ARC
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D benefits data (2027 landscape file)
- CMS — Hospital General Information (October 2026)
- Medicare.gov — Your coverage options
More questions in this guide
- Can I get an early prescription refill before a winter storm in Ohio?
- Does Medicare cover telehealth in rural Ohio?
- Does Medicare pay for a generator for oxygen or medical equipment?
- Does Medicare pay for an air ambulance in Ohio?
- Is there a Medicare special enrollment period after a disaster in Ohio?
- What happens to my Medicare after a flood in Ohio?
- What is a rural emergency hospital in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Medicare in Rural and Appalachian Ohio · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Are the Part D drug plans different in Appalachian Ohio?
No. Ohio is a single Part D region, so the same 9 standalone Part D plans from 5 companies are available in every county for 2027.
Can I use doctors in West Virginia or Kentucky?
With Original Medicare, yes, at any provider that accepts Medicare. With Medicare Advantage, only if they are in the plan's network, except for emergencies and urgently needed care. Check before you enroll.
Is there help paying for Medicare in Appalachian Ohio?
Yes, statewide programs apply in every county: Medicare Savings Programs through Ohio Medicaid and Extra Help for drug costs through Social Security. Apply at benefits.ohio.gov or your county Job and Family Services office.
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 →
