The paperwork, in plain words, with the official door for each.
What each program is, who runs it, and where to start. We describe; we do not advise, decide eligibility, or fill in a form for you. The navigator will sit on the line with you while you call the official number.
Bring to the phone: the Medicare card, last year’s tax return, any letter that started this, and the date of birth of the person it is about. The navigator writes nothing down unless you ask for a call back.
Where to start, and who to call
Medicare
Health insurance from 65. Part A is the hospital, Part B the doctor, Part D the pharmacy, and a Medicare Advantage plan is a private plan that bundles them. Enrolment windows have dates; missing one can cost a penalty, which is why counselling exists.
Help with Medicare costs
Medicare Savings Programs pay the Part B premium and sometimes more, for people under an income line. Extra Help lowers what you pay for prescriptions under Part D, and is applied for through Social Security.
Social Security
Retirement, survivor and disability benefits. Most things — an application, a replacement card, a change of address, the yearly letter — are done on the official website or by phone; a local office needs an appointment.
The homestead exemption
An Ohio property-tax reduction for homeowners who are 65 or over, permanently disabled, or a surviving spouse, on the home they live in. Apply once through the county auditor; the form is free.
Help at home through Medicaid
Ohio’s Area Agencies on Aging run the front door for long-term care at home: an assessment first, then services for those who are eligible. One statewide number reaches the agency for your county.
A problem in a nursing home or with home care
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman takes complaints about care in nursing homes, assisted living and home care, on the resident’s behalf and at no charge.
Every link on this page goes to an official site — a federal or Ohio agency — and nowhere else. Aging Well Navigator does not give legal, financial, medical or benefits advice; it reports where the rule lives and who administers it. A listing in the directory is not an endorsement.
