Medicare Advantage

Jersey City's 2027 Dual Special Needs Plans: who they fit and how often you can switch

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, N.J. — For people in Jersey City who have both Medicare and New Jersey Medicaid, the 2027 plan year brings a familiar short list of coordinated options. Hudson County, where Jersey City sits, has five Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) on the shelf for 2027, each offered by a different carrier. These plans are built for people who qualify for both programs, and the rules for joining or changing one are more flexible than the standard fall window most Medicare members work with.

Here is what the lineup looks like, who can enroll, and how to confirm where you stand before January 1, 2027.

What are Dual Special Needs Plans in Jersey City for 2027?

Dual Special Needs Plans are a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. In Hudson County, 5 of the 48 Medicare Advantage plans offered for 2027 are D-SNPs. All five include prescription drug coverage and are built to coordinate Medicare benefits with the Medicaid benefits New Jersey already provides.

The five D-SNPs available in the county for 2027, listed alphabetically by carrier, are:

• Aetna Medicare FIDE (HMO D-SNP) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)
• Horizon NJ TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) — Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
• UHC Dual Complete NJ-Y001 (HMO D-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare

The table on this page lists every Medicare Advantage plan in the county, including these D-SNPs, so you can see the full picture side by side.

Who qualifies as a dual-eligible in New Jersey?

To join a D-SNP in Jersey City, you must have Medicare (Parts A and B) and some level of New Jersey Medicaid. The state Medicaid agency is the one that decides what level of help you qualify for, and that level determines which D-SNPs you can enroll in.

In plain terms, there are two broad groups:

• Full dual-eligible. Medicaid covers a wide range of services for you, often including long-term services and supports. Some D-SNPs — including Fully Integrated ones (FIDE) — are designed specifically for this group.
• Partial dual-eligible. Medicaid helps pay some Medicare costs (for example, Part B premiums or cost-sharing) through a Medicare Savings Program, but does not cover the full range of Medicaid benefits.

Each D-SNP sets its own eligibility category, so a plan that works for a full dual may not accept a partial dual, and vice versa. The surest way to check your exact status is to contact NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey's Medicaid program) or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

How often can a dual-eligible person change plans?

Most Medicare members can only change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31). People with Medicaid or Extra Help have additional opportunities on top of those.

As the rules stand now, dual-eligibles generally have a monthly chance to:

• Enroll in an integrated D-SNP that aligns their Medicare and Medicaid coverage, or
• Return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

Separate rules can apply when you first become dual-eligible or when your Medicaid status changes. Because CMS has been refining D-SNP enrollment rules in recent years, confirm the current opportunity that fits your situation with 1-800-MEDICARE before you move.

How do I confirm my eligibility before enrolling?

Start with two phone calls. Call NJ FamilyCare to confirm your current Medicaid category — that tells you which D-SNPs will accept your enrollment. Then call 1-800-MEDICARE (or sign in at medicare.gov) to see which plans in Hudson County match that category and to check that your doctors, hospitals and medicines fit a specific plan.

A few things worth having ready:

• Your Medicare number and the start dates for Part A and Part B.
• Your NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid ID and any letters showing your level of help.
• A list of your current prescriptions, doses and pharmacies.
• The names of the doctors and hospitals you want to keep using.

If you already have a D-SNP, read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan sends in September. For 2027, Hudson County will see 10 Medicare Advantage plans not returning, 10 new plans, and 2 renamed — the ANOC explains any change that affects your specific plan.

What else is changing for 2027 that dual-eligibles should know?

Two Part D figures are confirmed for 2027 and affect everyone with Medicare drug coverage, including D-SNP members:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).

Many dual-eligibles qualify for Extra Help, which lowers or removes drug costs regardless of the standard cap. The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan — an optional way to spread drug costs across the year — remains available in 2027 for members who want it.