Ohio Patient Advocates
An Ohio patient advocate is a trained professional who handles the coordination, paperwork, and phone calls around your care, covered by Medicare. Careway advocates work with patients across Ohio by phone and video, from Columbus and Cleveland to Cincinnati, Toledo, and the rural counties in between.
What is different about getting help here
World-class hospitals, and the coordination they require
Ohio patients often travel to a major academic center for one condition while keeping their primary doctor at home. That split produces excellent care and a coordination problem, because the two ends do not automatically talk.
- Makes sure the specialist's findings reach the doctor at home
- Keeps one calendar when care is split across cities
- Arranges transportation for appointments far from home
Free Medicare counseling through OSHIIP
Ohio's insurance department runs OSHIIP, a free counseling program that answers Medicare questions without selling anything. It is a genuinely good resource for coverage questions, and separate from the ongoing work an advocate does.
Staying home instead of moving
Ohio funds home and community-based care through PASSPORT and related programs for people who would otherwise need nursing home care. Eligibility and applications are handled regionally, which is why so few families find them on their own.
- Explains what PASSPORT covers and who qualifies
- Connects families to their regional Area Agency on Aging
- Screens for Ohio Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Programs
The bills that follow a hospital stay
A single hospital stay generates bills from the hospital, the physicians, the lab, and sometimes an out-of-network specialist nobody chose. Reviewing them against what was actually delivered is ordinary advocate work.
- Matches bills against explanations of benefits and the care delivered
- Challenges duplicate and incorrectly coded charges
- Files appeals within the deadline and follows them through
Programs your advocate helps you reach
These are run by Ohio and its counties, not by Careway. Your advocate helps you find out whether you qualify and works through the applications with you.
OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program)
Ohio's free Medicare counseling program, run by the Ohio Department of Insurance, offering unbiased help with coverage and appeals.
Official site ➞Ohio Medicaid
State health coverage that can pay Medicare cost-sharing for people who qualify and cover services Medicare does not.
Official site ➞PASSPORT
Ohio's home and community-based care program for older adults who would otherwise need nursing home care.
Official site ➞Area Agencies on Aging
Regional agencies coordinating meals, rides, in-home help, and caregiver support throughout Ohio.
Official site ➞Where Ohio patients get their care
Records do not move between these on their own. When your doctors are in more than one, your advocate is the one making sure each has the current picture.
- Cleveland Clinic
- OhioHealth
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- University Hospitals
- Mercy Health
- ProMedica
- TriHealth
Advocates across Ohio
Columbus
Patient advocates for Columbus seniors, covered by Medicare. Help navigating Ohio State Wexner, OhioHealth, and Mount Carmel care in Franklin County.
Read more ➞Cleveland
Patient advocates for Cleveland seniors, covered by Medicare. Help navigating Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth care in Cuyahoga County.
Read more ➞Cincinnati
Patient advocates for Cincinnati seniors, covered by Medicare. Help navigating TriHealth, UC Health, and Mercy Health care in Hamilton County.
Read more ➞Toledo
Patient advocates for Toledo seniors, covered by Medicare. Help navigating ProMedica and Mercy Health care in Lucas County.
Read more ➞Akron
Patient advocates for Akron seniors, covered by Medicare. Help navigating Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Summit County services.
Read more ➞Questions from Ohio
Yes. Medicare's care management programs are Medicare-covered services available to eligible patients in Ohio. If you have a Medigap policy or Medicaid, your standard coinsurance may be fully covered.
Not necessarily, and it rarely matters. Your advocate works with you by phone and video, and is familiar with the coverage rules, programs, and health systems in your state. There is no office to travel to.
OSHIIP is Ohio's free Medicare counseling program, run by the state insurance department. It is a good place for unbiased coverage answers. An advocate does the ongoing work of appointments, records, appeals, and applications.
Yes, and this is common in Ohio. Advocates make sure the specialist's findings reach your doctor at home, keep one calendar across both, and arrange transportation or telehealth where it fits.
PASSPORT is Ohio's program for home and community-based care, for older adults who would otherwise need nursing home care. An advocate can explain whether you are likely to qualify and help with the application.
Yes. Advocates collect the bills and explanations of benefits, compare them against the care that was actually delivered, and challenge duplicate or incorrectly coded charges.
Talk to someone who can take this on
Checking whether you qualify takes a couple of minutes. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you plainly.
Covered by Medicare. If you have a supplemental policy (Medigap) or Medicaid, your standard coinsurance may be fully covered.