How do I apply for Medicaid in Franklin County?

Apply online at benefits.ohio.gov — it's the fastest path. The application covers traditional Medicaid, Medicaid ABD (Aged, Blind, Disabled), and the Medicare Savings Programs. Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services processes the application and is your point of contact for follow-up. COAAA's counselors can help walk you through the application if you need assistance.

How do I apply for the Homestead Exemption in Franklin County?

Contact the Franklin County Auditor (currently the Fiscal Officer's office). Application forms are available online or in person. Submit by December 31 for the exemption to apply to the next year's tax bill. You must be 65+ (or permanently disabled), own your home, and occupy it as your primary residence. Once approved, the exemption stays in place as long as you continue to meet the criteria.

Does Franklin County offer transportation for medical appointments?

Yes, through several programs. COAAA operates transportation services for qualifying seniors. Franklin County Senior Options funds additional rides for income-qualifying seniors 60+. Specific Medicaid waiver participants may have transportation through their managed care plan. For Medicare-only beneficiaries who don't qualify for these programs, options include private services, family arrangements, and some Medicare Advantage plans that include transportation benefits.

How does Franklin County's property tax compare to other Ohio counties?

Franklin County's effective property tax rate is mid-range for Ohio — higher than rural counties, lower than Cuyahoga or some northeast Ohio counties. Within Franklin County, rates vary significantly by school district. Bexley, Upper Arlington, and Dublin tend to have higher rates than Whitehall, Hamilton, or Reynoldsburg. The Auditor's online property search shows specific rates by parcel.

Can I have full Medicaid AND a Medicare Advantage plan in Franklin County?

Yes, but with a structure: if you have full Medicaid plus Medicare, you're a dual-eligible. In Franklin County, you can enroll in Next Generation MyCare Ohio — an integrated plan combining Medicare and Medicaid into one — through Anthem, Buckeye Health Plan, CareSource, or Molina Healthcare. Or you can keep traditional Medicare/MA and traditional Medicaid separate. Most dual-eligibles find the integrated MyCare plan provides better care coordination and lower out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare in Franklin County, OH (2026): Columbus, OPERS, and County Services

On this page

Franklin County's Medicare population
Franklin County JFS — Medicaid and MSP
Franklin County Auditor — Homestead Exemption
COAAA — local Area Agency on Aging
Property tax across Franklin County's school districts
Senior services beyond Medicare
Common questions

Franklin County's Medicare population

Franklin County has Ohio's largest Medicare-eligible population by sheer numbers, though the percentage 65+ is slightly lower than statewide average due to OSU's student population and the metro's strong job-driven in-migration. Distinctive features:

OPERS retiree concentration — Columbus is the state capital and home to most state government employees, plus Franklin County and City of Columbus workforces. OPERS retirees in Franklin County number in the tens of thousands.
OSU staff — non-teaching staff at The Ohio State University are OPERS members; teaching faculty are STRS Ohio.
Federal civilian retirees from Defense Supply Center Columbus and other federal facilities.
Nationwide, Huntington, and JPMorgan Chase retirees — Franklin's strong financial-services employer base has produced a substantial private-sector retiree population with employer-sponsored retiree health benefits.
Significant low-income senior population in central neighborhoods, served by Franklin County JFS and through Next Generation MyCare Ohio for dual-eligibles.

Franklin County JFS — Medicaid and MSP

The Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services (JFS) is your point of contact for:

Medicaid eligibility — including full Medicaid (which establishes dual-eligible status), Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD), and the various spend-down rules.
Medicare Savings Program applications — QMB, SLMB, QI. The state of Ohio administers these statewide, but applications and case management go through the county JFS.
Renewals and recertifications — Medicaid eligibility is reviewed periodically; the county JFS handles the paperwork.

Franklin County JFS offices are located at multiple sites including 1721 Northland Ave (Columbus) and other neighborhood locations. The fastest way to apply is online at benefits.ohio.gov; if you need help, the Area Agency on Aging can help if you need application assistance.

Franklin County Auditor — Homestead Exemption

The Franklin County Auditor (currently the county fiscal officer's office) processes Homestead Exemption applications. To apply:

Be 65+ or permanently disabled and the homeowner of your primary residence.
Complete the application form (available at the Auditor's website or in person).
Submit by the deadline — typically December 31 of the year for which you're seeking the exemption.
The exemption reduces your home's taxable value by $25,000.

For a $200,000 home in Franklin County, the Homestead Exemption typically saves $400–$600/year in property tax depending on your school district's millage rate. The exemption stays in place for as long as you own and occupy the home as your primary residence.

Property tax payment schedule

Franklin County property taxes are billed in two halves — typically due in mid-January (second half of prior year) and mid-July (first half of current year). The Auditor's website has a property search tool where you can look up your current bill, see your school district's millage, and confirm whether your Homestead Exemption has been applied.

COAAA — local Area Agency on Aging

The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) serves Franklin County plus Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union counties. COAAA is the regional Area Agency on Aging serving older Ohioans across the district for Franklin County residents.

COAAA services beyond OSHIIP include:

PASSPORT HCBS waiver case management — for Medicaid-eligible seniors who need long-term services and supports to remain at home rather than in a nursing facility.
Aging and Disability Resource Network (ADRN) — central information line for senior services.
Meal delivery and congregate dining — through partner programs.
Transportation coordination — for medical appointments and other essential trips.
Caregiver support — programs for family members caring for aging relatives.

Contact COAAA directly at coaaa.org for office locations and services.

Property tax across Franklin County's school districts

Property tax rates vary substantially across Franklin County's many school districts. As a rough range, annual property tax on a $250,000 home in Franklin County typically falls between $4,000 and $7,500/year, depending on:

School district millage (the biggest single variable).
City vs. township residency (some townships have lower municipal levies).
Library, parks, mental health, and other levies passed in your area.

For Medicare beneficiaries on fixed income, the school district where you choose to live (or stay in retirement) significantly affects your annual fixed costs. The Franklin County Auditor publishes detailed tax information by parcel; consult that before relocating within the county.

Senior services beyond Medicare

Franklin County offers several senior-focused services that complement Medicare coverage:

COAAA case management — for seniors with complex needs.
Franklin County Senior Options — additional services funded by the Franklin County Senior Options Levy (passed by county voters), offering home-delivered meals, transportation, personal care, and minor home modifications for seniors 60+ who meet income criteria.
Health Department services — Franklin County Public Health offers free vaccinations (including flu and COVID), some preventive screenings, and health education.
Legal aid — through the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for low-income seniors navigating Medicare appeals, Medicaid eligibility disputes, and consumer protection issues.