Next Generation MyCare Ohio: How It Changes Home Care in 2026

If your parent qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid — called "dual eligible" — the most significant change to Ohio's elder care system in years is happening right now. The Next Generation MyCare Ohio program is rolling out statewide throughout 2026, and for dual-eligible seniors, it replaces the traditional PASSPORT waiver with a fully integrated managed care model.

Understanding whether your parent is in an active MyCare county, what the program covers, and which plans are available is now essential before starting any Medicaid home care application.

What Is MyCare Ohio?

MyCare Ohio is Ohio's program for integrating Medicare and Medicaid benefits for dual-eligible adults — people who qualify for both. Instead of receiving Medicare through traditional fee-for-service and Medicaid separately through the PASSPORT waiver or other programs, dual-eligible individuals in MyCare Ohio counties receive all their benefits through a single managed care plan.

This means one plan handles:

• All Medicare-covered services (doctor visits, hospital care, skilled nursing, home health, prescriptions)
• All Medicaid-covered long-term services and supports, including in-home personal care, homemaker services, meals, and the services previously available through PASSPORT
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Care coordination

The goal is a more streamlined experience — one plan, one care coordinator, one point of contact — rather than navigating Medicare and Medicaid as entirely separate systems.

The 2026 Statewide Rollout Schedule

MyCare Ohio previously operated in only 29 counties (the original demonstration counties). Beginning January 1, 2026, the program is expanding statewide through a phased regional rollout tied to Ohio's Area Agency on Aging boundaries.

Phase 1 — January 1, 2026 (Original 29 counties already active): Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Summit, Lucas, Montgomery, Stark, Mahoning, Butler, Warren, Lorain, Medina, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Wayne, Columbiana, Trumbull, Delaware, Union, Madison, Pickaway, Greene, Clark, Clinton, Clermont, Fulton, Ottawa, Wood.

Phase 2a — April 1, 2026: Sandusky, Erie, Henry, Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Fayette, Fairfield, Licking, Ashtabula.

Phase 2b — May 1, 2026: Preble, Darke, Miami, Shelby, Champaign, Logan, Van Wert, Putnam, Hancock, Allen, Mercer, Auglaize, Hardin, Seneca, Huron, Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Ashland, Marion, Morrow, Knox.

Phase 2c — June 1, 2026: Ross, Vinton, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Gallia, Brown, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence.

Phase 2d — July 1, 2026: Holmes, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Jefferson, Coshocton, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, Muskingum.

Phase 2e — August 1, 2026: Hocking, Perry, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Athens, Meigs.

If your parent's county was included in an earlier phase, they are already in MyCare Ohio territory. If they live in a Phase 2d or 2e county, they are transitioning now or will transition very soon.

To confirm the current MyCare Ohio status of any specific county, contact the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680.

Which Plans Are Available in 2026

In 2026, three managed care plans are available statewide for new MyCare Ohio enrollees:

• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• CareSource MyCare Ohio
• Molina Healthcare of Ohio

Buckeye Health Plan is not available to new enrollees in 2026. Additionally, Aetna Better Health of Ohio and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan ceased operations in Ohio on December 31, 2025. Any existing enrollees in those plans have been or will be transitioned to one of the three remaining plans.

When choosing a plan, families should verify:

• That the parent's current primary care physician is in-network
• That any home care agencies the family is already working with participate in the plan's network
• Transportation benefits (MyCare Ohio plans must provide transportation when no participating specialist is within 30 miles)
• Dental, vision, and hearing allowances (these vary by plan and can be a meaningful differentiator)

Each plan has a member handbook and provider directory available on their website. You can also call each plan's member services line to ask specific questions before enrollment.

How MyCare Ohio Affects Home Care Services

For dual-eligible seniors in active MyCare counties, the traditional PASSPORT waiver is not available. This is a firm rule, not a preference. If your parent is dual eligible and lives in a MyCare county, their home care and personal care services are covered through the MyCare Ohio Waiver — which is functionally equivalent to the PASSPORT waiver but administered through the managed care plan rather than directly through the Area Agency on Aging.

Covered home care services through MyCare Ohio include:

• Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility assistance)
• Homemaker services (housekeeping, meal preparation)
• Home-delivered meals
• Non-emergency transportation
• Emergency response systems (medical alert devices)
• Home modifications and environmental adaptations
• Respite care for family caregivers
• Structured Family Caregiving (for live-in family caregivers meeting agency requirements)

Care coordination is handled by a plan-assigned care coordinator rather than an AAA case manager. The care coordinator develops the individual care plan, connects the member with in-network providers, and handles prior authorizations for services.

What to Do If Your Parent Is Not Dual Eligible

Not all Ohio seniors are dual eligible. A parent who has Medicaid but not Medicare, or who has Medicare but not Medicaid, does not fall under the MyCare Ohio program.

• Medicaid only (no Medicare): The traditional PASSPORT waiver administered through the AAA applies, regardless of county.
• Medicare only (no Medicaid): The parent is not eligible for Medicaid waiver services at all. Medicare covers short-term skilled care (nursing, therapy) but does not pay for custodial personal care or homemaking services.

If your parent is currently on Medicare only and private savings are being depleted by home care costs, the next step is to assess Medicaid eligibility — applying for full Medicaid long-term care benefits so they can access the PASSPORT or MyCare waiver system.

How to Enroll

For dual-eligible seniors transitioning to MyCare Ohio, enrollment typically happens through the Ohio Medicaid system rather than by direct application to a plan. The state sends notices when a county becomes active.

If your parent has not been contacted and their county is now in a MyCare phase:

1. Call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680 to confirm status and enrollment options.
2. Review the three available plans and their provider networks.
3. Request enrollment in the selected plan through the hotline or through the plan directly.

If your parent does not actively choose a plan, they will be auto-assigned to one of the three active plans. Auto-assignment can be changed during a specified window after enrollment.

For families navigating the full picture — whether their parent is dual eligible, what the MyCare Ohio enrollment process involves, how to select the right plan, and how this intersects with the financial eligibility process for Medicaid — the Ohio Aging in Place Guide covers the MyCare Ohio system with a county-by-county reference, plan comparison guidance, and scripts for calling the Medicaid Consumer Hotline.

See more Ohio guides →