Medicare 2026

New to Medicare in East Orange? Start With SHIP

East Orange, N.J. — If you're sorting through Medicare mail, phone calls, and TV ads, you're not alone. East Orange sits in Essex County, where 122,640 residents are 65 or older, and the choices can feel overwhelming. The good news: free, unbiased help is available locally, and you don't have to figure it out on your own.

What SHIP is and why it's different

SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In New Jersey, it's run through the Department of Human Services and staffed largely by trained volunteers. SHIP counselors don't sell insurance, don't earn commissions, and aren't tied to any carrier. Their only job is to help you understand your options.

You can meet with a SHIP counselor by phone or in person. They can walk you through Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug coverage, Medigap supplements, and programs that help with costs if you're on a fixed income.

To reach SHIP-NJ, call 1-800-792-8820. You can also find local counseling sites through the New Jersey Division of Aging Services or by asking at the East Orange Public Library or a nearby senior center.

How licensed agents fit in

Licensed insurance agents and brokers are another common source of local help. A good agent can explain plan details, check whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered, and handle the paperwork to enroll you.

A few things to know:

• Agents are paid a commission by the insurance company when you enroll.
• Some agents are "captive" and only sell one carrier's plans. Others are independent and represent several.
• It's fair to ask which carriers an agent is contracted with and how they're paid.

Both SHIP counselors and licensed agents follow Medicare's marketing rules. Neither should pressure you, show up uninvited, or ask for payment to enroll you in Medicare.

The local picture in Essex County

Plan availability is set at the county level. In Essex County, there are 46 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 9 different carriers for 2027 — 36 continuing, 10 new, 10 not returning, and 2 renamed; 10 continuing plans change something in their terms, spelled out in each plan's ANOC. Stand-alone Part D drug plans are counted separately by CMS and offered statewide rather than by county.

That many choices is a lot to sort through alone. Whether you sit down with SHIP or an agent, bring a list of your prescriptions, your doctors, and any hospitals you prefer. That's the fastest way to narrow the field.

2027 rules worth knowing

A few program-wide facts to keep in mind as you compare:

• The Part D annual out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The maximum Part D deductible any plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you choose.
• Higher-income enrollees pay IRMAA surcharges; for a single filer in 2026, that starts above $109,000 in income.

Key dates

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. This is when most people can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch or return to Original Medicare.