Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Linden, NJ: Plan Counts & 2027 Choices

Union County Medicare plan counts for 2026 and what to check for 2027 during the Oct 15–Dec 7, 2026 Annual Enrollment Period.

LINDEN, N.J. — If you are turning 65 in Linden or already have Medicare, you have choices to sort through for 2027. Linden sits in Union County, where 57 Medicare Advantage plans were available in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Plan Finder and Landscape data. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

That is a lot of ground to cover, but you do not have to figure it out alone. Here is a plain-language snapshot of what is on the table locally, plus the program-wide rules that apply no matter which plan you pick.

How many Medicare options are in the Linden area?

Because Medicare Advantage and Part D availability is set at the county level, the count for Linden is really the count for Union County. In 2026, that meant:

• 57 Medicare Advantage plans are available in the county.
• 9 carriers are offering Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MA-PD).
• 0 stand-alone Part D plans are listed in the county's landscape file for this snapshot — most local drug coverage is bundled into MA-PD plans. If you have Original Medicare and want drug coverage, check Plan Finder for stand-alone Part D options that serve your ZIP code.

With about 87,277 people age 65 or older in Union County, this is a large and active Medicare market. The number of choices is a good thing, but it also means comparing plans carefully matters.

What the plan count does — and does not — tell you

A high plan count means more options, not automatically a better fit. Two people on the same street in Linden can end up with very different "best fit" plans depending on the doctors they see, the drugs they take, and how they like to get care.

A few tips as you look at the 57 options:

• Start with your doctors and hospitals. Confirm each is in-network before anything else.
• Check the drug list (formulary) for every prescription you take.
• Look at the plan's rules for referrals, prior authorization, and out-of-network care.

What about Star Ratings?

CMS publishes Star Ratings each year to help people compare Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on quality and member experience. In the current data for this area, no contracts are rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings can change year to year, so it is worth checking the current numbers on medicare.gov when you compare plans.

Star Ratings are one signal among many — not a stand-alone recommendation.

Program rules that apply no matter which plan you choose

Some Medicare figures are set by the federal government and apply everywhere, including Linden:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches that amount, you pay nothing for the rest of the year for covered prescriptions.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can charge less).
• No more "donut hole": The coverage gap was eliminated starting in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional program that lets you spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay income-related surcharges on Part B and Part D. In 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Key dates to circle

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when most people compare, join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for 2027 coverage that starts January 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

Special Enrollment Periods may also apply if you move, lose other coverage, or qualify for Extra Help.

Where to get personalized answers

With 57 Medicare Advantage plans in play locally, plus Original Medicare and Part D questions, it pays to get help from a neutral source before you enroll:

• Medicare.gov — Use the Plan Finder tool with your ZIP code and drug list.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — Available 24/7.
• New Jersey SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for New Jersey residents, including those in Union County.