MyCare Ohio CareSource, Anthem, and Molina: Which Plan to Choose in 2026

The Next Generation MyCare Ohio program launched on January 1, 2026, replacing the decade-old Medicare-Medicaid Plan demonstration with a fully integrated managed care model. If your parent is dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, this transition affects how their long-term care, home health, and medical services are coordinated — and the carrier you choose matters more than most families realize.

The Three Carriers and How They Differ

Four carriers were awarded Next Generation MyCare contracts: Anthem, CareSource, Molina, and Buckeye (Wellcare). However, Buckeye is closed to new enrollees for the 2026 plan year — only existing MMP members were transitioned. Buckeye is also completely unavailable in Belmont and Ashtabula counties.

For most new applicants, the practical choice is between three carriers:

CareSource — Ohio's largest Medicaid managed care organization. CareSource tends to have the broadest network of home care agencies and community providers across rural counties. If your parent lives in a less-populated area, CareSource is often the safest bet for maintaining access to local personal care aides and adult day centers.

Anthem — The largest commercial insurer in Ohio. Anthem typically has stronger hospital and specialist networks, which matters if your parent needs frequent specialist appointments or has complex medical needs beyond dementia care. Their care coordination technology (patient portals, digital prior authorizations) tends to be more polished.

Molina — Focused heavily on Medicaid populations. Molina often provides competitive supplemental benefits like over-the-counter allowances and transportation credits. Their provider networks vary significantly by county, so verify your parent's current physicians are in-network before enrolling.

The 2026 County Rollout Schedule

MyCare Ohio expanded from 29 legacy counties to all 88 Ohio counties through six monthly phases in 2026:

• January 1, 2026 — Original counties including Butler, Hamilton, Montgomery, Franklin, Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, Mahoning, Lucas, and Lorain
• April 1, 2026 — Sandusky, Erie, Henry, Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Fayette, Fairfield, Licking, Ashtabula
• May 1, 2026 — Preble, Darke, Miami, Shelby, Champaign, Logan, Van Wert, Putnam, Hancock, Allen, Mercer, Auglaize, and surrounding counties
• June 1, 2026 — Southern Appalachian counties: Ross, Vinton, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Gallia, Brown, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence
• July 1, 2026 — Eastern counties: Holmes, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Jefferson, Coshocton, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, Muskingum
• August 1, 2026 — Final southeastern counties: Hocking, Perry, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Athens, Meigs

If your parent's county just transitioned, they may have been auto-assigned a carrier. You can change plans, but you need to contact the Ohio Benefits enrollment line before the lock-in period ends.

What MyCare Ohio Replaces

This is where families managing dementia care get confused. Under Next Gen MyCare, three legacy waivers are consolidated into a single capitated waiver:

• PASSPORT (the classic home care waiver)
• Assisted Living Waiver
• Ohio Home Care Waiver

If your parent is dual-eligible, they can no longer enroll in legacy PASSPORT. Their home care, memory care, and community-based services are all coordinated through whichever MyCare carrier they select. The carrier's case manager replaces the Area Agency on Aging coordinator.

The Disenrollment Risk

Some families consider opting out of MyCare to return to fee-for-service Medicaid and legacy PASSPORT. The risk is real: legacy waivers have strict capacity caps. If the PASSPORT program in your region is at capacity, your parent goes on a waiting list with no guaranteed slot — potentially leaving them without home care services during the transition.

How to Choose the Right Carrier

Before enrollment closes, take these steps:

1. Call your parent's primary care physician, neurologist, and any home care agencies currently providing services. Ask which MyCare carriers they contract with.
2. Check each carrier's formulary if your parent takes dementia-specific medications (donepezil, memantine, galantamine). Formulary coverage and prior authorization requirements vary.
3. Ask about care management staffing — specifically, whether the carrier assigns a dedicated nurse care manager or uses a rotating pool. Consistency matters for dementia care coordination.

The Ohio Dementia & Memory Care Guide includes a carrier comparison checklist with the specific questions to ask each plan before enrolling, plus a county-by-county rollout tracker.

See more Ohio guides →