Medicare 2026
Bayonne's Medicare to-do list before Dec. 7
BAYONNE, N.J. — The fall stretch of Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is underway, and for Bayonne residents on Medicare, the calendar to watch runs from October 15 through December 7. Anything you change in that window takes effect January 1, 2027 — and after December 7, most people are locked into their choice for the year.
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Key takeaways
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- During AEP you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Advantage or Part D plans, or drop and add drug coverage.
- Free, unbiased help is available through New Jersey's SHIP (called SHIP-NJ) and through 1-800-MEDICARE.
This season also brings another shift for anyone using prescription drugs: the Part D out-of-pocket cap moves from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, two years after the old "donut hole" was replaced with a simpler three-phase design. That makes it worth a fresh look at your coverage, even if you were happy with it last year.
What you can actually do between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the once-a-year window when almost every Medicare beneficiary can make changes. During AEP you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
Whatever you pick becomes active on January 1, 2027. If you don't want to change anything, you don't have to do anything — your current plan generally rolls over, as long as it's still being offered next year.
Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change
By late September, your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan should have sent you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It spells out what will be different in 2027 — premium, deductible, drug list, provider network, copays, and extra benefits.
Even if you like your plan, read that notice. A drug you take could move to a different tier, or a doctor you see could be leaving the network. AEP exists so you can react to those changes before they hit you in January.
The 2027 numbers worth knowing
A few program-wide figures apply no matter which plan you have:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 for the year in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs the rest of 2027.
- Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (plans may set a lower one).
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional, no-extra-cost program that lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA: higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026 (higher thresholds apply for joint filers).
Bayonne, Hudson County, and how plan choices work
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level, not the city level. Bayonne is in Hudson County, so the plans you'll see when you compare options on Medicare.gov are the ones approved for Hudson County residents. Original Medicare, by contrast, works the same nationwide.
When you use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, enter your Bayonne ZIP code and it will pull the Hudson County options.
Missed AEP? What comes next
December 7 is a firm deadline for most changes. But there are a couple of follow-up windows:
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31, 2027. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).
- Special Enrollment Periods: Certain life events — moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help — can open a separate window outside AEP.
Where to get free, trustworthy help
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to talk to a salesperson to get answers.
- Medicare.gov — official plan comparisons, coverage rules, and the Plan Finder tool.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, in many languages.
- SHIP-NJ (New Jersey's State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who don't sell insurance.
A quick warning: AEP is also peak season for Medicare scams. Medicare will not call, text, or knock on your door to "verify" your number or push you into a plan. When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Hudson County
(MA penetration in Hudson County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for Medicare open enrollment in 2026 for 2027 coverage?
Do I have to do anything during AEP if I like my current plan?
Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans after December 7?
Where can Bayonne residents get unbiased help comparing options?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Bayonne
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.