Ohio Auditor finds ineligible millionaires and deceased persons on Medicaid rolls

An interim report from the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office has revealed significant eligibility failures within the state’s Medicaid programs for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) population. Auditor Keith Faber reported that a review of 1,500 sampled individuals found that 3 percent were ineligible due to possessing resources exceeding legal limits. This group included several individuals with more than $1 million in assets.

The audit also found that benefits continued to be paid to more than 3,000 deceased individuals. In the sample of ineligible recipients, approximately $356,541 in benefits was distributed, averaging $7,000 per person.

Faber attributed these discrepancies to systemic weaknesses in the Ohio Department of Medicaid, citing infrequent eligibility reviews and outdated application processes. The findings come as part of a mandate from the 2026–27 biennial state budget to ensure public resources are directed to those who truly qualify. Ohio spends approximately $40 billion annually on its Medicaid programs.