Medicare Advantage

Before you renew in Jersey City: a 2027 Medicare Advantage check in six steps

Hudson County has 48 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 10 plans are not coming back, 10 are new, and 12 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 2 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Jersey City, not which plan to pick.

JERSEY CITY — The 2027 Medicare Advantage plans are on the shelf, and the window to switch for January 1 coverage closes December 7, 2026. Jersey City sits in Hudson County, where federal data shows 48 Medicare Advantage plans from 9 carriers for 2027 — including 10 brand-new plans and 10 that will not come back. If you do nothing, your current plan renews (if it is still offered) with whatever changes are spelled out in its Annual Notice of Change.

That letter, plus a short list of your own doctors and prescriptions, is really all you need to do a careful comparison. Here is how to work through it.

What is changing for Medicare Advantage in Jersey City for 2027?

Jersey City is in Hudson County, where 48 Medicare Advantage plans will be offered in 2027 from 9 carriers. Of those plans, 10 are new for 2027 and 10 are not returning. A few plan names have also changed; the Annual Notice of Change your current plan mails out tells you if yours is one of them.

By plan type, the Hudson County 2027 lineup includes 14 HMO plans, 9 HMO-POS plans and 25 PPO plans. Most — 42 of the 48 — include Part D drug coverage built in.

The returning carriers for 2027 are Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Clover Health, Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Humana, Longevity Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare. The table below lists every plan.

Which Special Needs Plans are available in Hudson County for 2027?

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for people in specific situations. In Hudson County for 2027, there are 5 Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs, for people with both Medicare and Medicaid), 7 Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs, tied to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease) and 3 Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs, generally for people living in a nursing home).

You have to meet the eligibility rules to join one, but if you qualify, these plans often coordinate care around that situation. The Medicare Plan Finder marks SNPs clearly so you can filter them in or out.

How do I compare 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Jersey City step by step?

Work through these six checks in order. They cover the things that most often trip people up at renewal time.

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your current plan must mail or email this by late September. It compares next year's premium, deductible, copays, drug tier changes and provider network to this year's. If anything on it surprises you, that is your cue to shop.

2. List your doctors and hospitals. Write down every provider you want to keep — primary care, specialists, your preferred hospital in Jersey City or nearby. On each plan you consider, confirm they are in-network for 2027. Networks can and do change year to year.

3. List your prescriptions, with dose and quantity. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter them once and see how each plan's formulary covers them, what tier they fall on, and the estimated yearly cost at the pharmacies you use.

4. Check your pharmacy. Many plans have "preferred" pharmacies where drug costs are lower. If you prefer mail order, confirm the plan supports it.

5. Decide what plan type fits. HMO plans generally require you to use in-network providers and pick a primary care doctor. HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network flexibility. PPO plans let you see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost. None is "better" — it depends on how you use care.

6. Look at total yearly cost, not just the premium. The Plan Finder adds up the premium plus your expected drug and medical cost-sharing. A plan with a higher premium can sometimes end up cheaper overall, and vice versa.

What happens if I do nothing before December 7, 2026?

If your current Medicare Advantage plan is being offered again in 2027, you stay enrolled automatically — with the changes listed in your ANOC taking effect January 1. You do not need to re-enroll each year.

If your plan is one of the 10 not returning in Hudson County, your carrier will send a non-renewal notice. In that case you can pick a new Medicare Advantage plan during Annual Enrollment, or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D drug plan). A separate Special Enrollment Period also gives you time into early 2027 to make a change if your plan is leaving.

And if you join a Medicare Advantage plan January 1 and change your mind, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31, 2027, when you can switch once or go back to Original Medicare.

What 2027 Medicare costs are already confirmed?

CMS has published a few program-wide 2027 figures that apply no matter which plan you pick:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that amount, you pay $0 for the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). Individual plans can set a lower deductible.
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027. This is a formula input Medicare uses, not what any particular plan charges.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced. CMS typically publishes those in the fall, usually November. Check medicare.gov for the update before you lock in your decision if income-related surcharges apply to you.

Where should I go for personalized help?

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the only tool that pulls together plans, networks, formularies, pharmacies and estimated yearly costs in one place using your own information. Create or sign in to your account to save your drug list and compare side by side.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for help from a Medicare representative. For plan-specific questions — exactly which doctor is in network, whether a specific drug needs prior authorization — call the plan directly using the number on its Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage.